IRS Going Slow Before Election
“The commissioner of internal revenue has ordered his agency to delay collecting back taxes from Hurricane Katrina victims until after the Nov. 7 elections and the holiday season, saying he did so in part to avoid negative publicity.
“The commissioner, Mark W. Everson, who has close ties to the White House, said in an interview that postponing collections until after the midterm elections, along with postponing notices to people who failed to file tax returns, was a routine effort to avoid casting the Internal Revenue Service in a bad light.
â’We are very sensitive to political perceptions,’ Mr. Everson said Wednesday, adding that he regularly discussed with his senior staff members when to take actions and make announcements in light of whether they would annoy a powerful member of Congress or get lost in the flow of news.” (NYTimes)
On Overseas Trips, Congress’s Rules Are Often Ignored
“Rep. Jerry Lewis and seven fellow members of Congress jetted to Europe in July 2003 on official government business and dined in restaurants from Warsaw to Lisbon.
“Instead of paying for the meals out of their government allowances, they were treated by a parade of defense contractors and lobbyists, most of which sent personnel to Europe to host the meals, according to foreign-service officials and the companies. The meals gave Boeing Co., Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp. and others private access to legislators who control billions of dollars in government contracts.
“One problem: The hitherto undisclosed free meals likely violated House rules and possibly federal law, experts on congressional ethics say. House rules, designed to prevent private interests from unduly influencing legislators’ work, bar members — with some exceptions — from accepting such meals on congressional trips abroad.” (WSJ)
Witness Grilled in CIA Leak Case
“Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald took on the first witness in the CIA leak case Thursday, dissecting an expert witness until she acknowledged errors and misstatements in her research….
“At the outset of the procedural hearing, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton indicated that he was not inclined to allow a memory expert to testify at the trial. Still, he allowed [defendent I. Lewis ‘Scooter’] Libby’s lawyers to present a witness to bolster their claim that memory experts would help in his defense.
“When it came Fitzgerald’s turn, the veteran prosecutor launched into a nearly three-hour cross-examination of the witness — psychologist Elizabeth Loftus — that had some members of the audience shaking their heads.” (AP)
Renzi Under Fire
“The Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has placed [Rep. Rick] Renzi [R-AZ] on its list of “Most Corrupt Members of Congress” two years in a row. Both times, it accused him of sponsoring 2003 legislation as a way to help his father….
“CREW also cited Renzi’s repeated Federal Election Commission problems as a reason for Renzi making its list. At least one accusation involved Sandlin….
“Another more complicated FEC case involving Renzi, however, has languished for more than three years.
“The FEC completed an audit in that case in October 2004 but didn’t release it until after the general election in November 2004, prompting complaints from then-Democratic contender Paul Babbitt.
“At the time, Babbitt also wondered out loud whether Renzi would have won his first race in 2002 without using what the FEC audit concluded were “impermissible corporate funds” of $369,090 to help gain name recognition in a crowded field of Republican primary candidates.
“Renzi said that was personal money he earned after selling his share of a company to Sandlin. Corporate contributions are illegal.” (Daily (Ariz.) Courier)
Incumbents on the Ropes Over Ties to Abramoff
“In the past decade, Representatives Richard W. Pombo and John T. Doolittle, Republicans of California, have shared rising political careers, a love for conservative politics and years of cruising to re-election.
“Now they share a pressing problem: questions about their relationships with Jack Abramoff, the former Washington lobbyist at the center of an extensive corruption investigation. While the Abramoff scandal no longer dominates national headlines, it has been a keystone of the Democratic strategy against Mr. Pombo and Mr. Doolittle, who are locked in tightening re-election campaigns despite the benefit of representing solidly Republican districts….
“Only a few months ago, the Doolittle and Pombo seats were considered safely Republican, but the electoral landscape for Republicans has changed so significantly that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee now includes them on a list of ’emerging races’ for Democrats. This week, the committee began broadcasting an anti-Pombo advertisement.” (NY Times)
CIA Tried to Silence EU on Torture Flights
“The CIA tried to persuade Germany to silence EU protests about the human rights record of one of America’s key allies in its clandestine torture flights programme, the Guardian can reveal.
“According to a secret intelligence report, the CIA offered to let Germany have access to one of its citizens, an al-Qaida suspect being held in a Moroccan cell. But the US secret agents demanded that in return, Berlin should cooperate and “avert pressure from EU” over human rights abuses in the north African country. The report describes Morocco as a ‘valuable partner in the fight against terrorism’….
“After the CIA offered a deal to Germany, EU countries adopted an almost universal policy of downplaying criticism of human rights records in countries where terrorist suspects have been held. They have also sidestepped questions about secret CIA flights partly because of growing evidence of their complicity.” (Guardian (U.K.))
Nevada Lawman Denies Bias in Probe
“A sheriff on Thursday denied giving preferential treatment to a Nevada congressman and gubernatorial candidate who was accused of assaulting a casino cocktail server….
“Chrissy Mazzeo, 32, claims [Rep. Jim] Gibbons [R-NV], 61, pushed her against a wall and made a sexual advance Oct. 13 while the two were walking to her truck after a night of dining and drinking at a Las Vegas restaurant. Gibbons denies her account, saying he was helping Mazzeo find her truck when she tripped. He caught her and then walked away, he said.
“Mazzeo dropped the complaint the next day, but now says she was pressured to do so by a friend who claimed to have ties to the Gibbons campaign….
“Mazzeo’s lawyer, Richard Wright, had raised the concerns about preferential treatment on Wednesday and said he had ‘lost confidence’ in Young’s department. He did not immediately return a call seeking comment about Young’s remarks.” (AP)
Trandahl Names Kolbe as a ‘Problem’ with Page Program, Source Says
“A source close to former House Clerk Jeff Trandahl told ABC News that Arizona Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.) was one of a small number of “problem members” of Congress who page program supervisors complained spent too much time socializing with pages, taking them to dinner or sporting events outside of official duties….
“The source said Trandahl frequently cautioned both congressmen that “adults should hang out with adults, pages should hang out with pages,” a message Trandahl also conveyed to pages during their orientation.” (The Blotter)
Marine Pleads Guilty to Assault
“A Marine pleaded guilty yesterday to charges of assault and obstruction of justice in the death of an Iraqi civilian last April.
“Pfc. John J. Jodka III, 20, entered the pleas through his lawyer, Joseph Casas, after telling the judge at his court-martial that he understood his rights.
“He was one of seven Marines and a Navy corpsman initially charged with murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, assault and housebreaking in the killing of 52-year-old Hashim Ibrahim Awad in the Iraqi town of Hamdania.” (Washington Times)
Intelligence Chairman Urges Leak Inquiry
“The chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has proposed a sweeping inquiry into the possible leak of a classified National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq by a staff member, including an audit of staff telephone records and e-mail to identify unauthorized contacts with news media or messages related to the leaked document.
“Peter Hoekstra [R-MI], in a paper outlining procedures for the inquiry, said a committee counsel could pursue ‘any additional information beyond that involving the NIE if it related to improper conduct with regard to classified information by any member of the committee staff.'” (WaPo)
Report: FBI in Expanded Aipac Probe
“An explosive new report claims that the federal investigation into the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the pro-Israel lobbying organization, has been expanded to include suspicion of meddling in affairs of the House Intelligence Committee….
“Under the alleged deal â which both sides vigorously deny was ever made â the lobby would actively support [Rep. Jane] Harmanâs [D-CA] bid to become the next chair of the intelligence committee if the Democrats win control of the House. In return, Harman would press the government to go easy on two former Aipac staffers, Steve Rosen and Keith Weissman, who are being prosecuted under the Espionage Act for allegedly communicating classified information to Israeli diplomats and reporters.
“Washington insiders are downplaying the likelihood that an investigation regarding Harman and Aipac would lead to any formal charges of wrongdoing. But the allegations â along with the upcoming trial of Rosen and Weissman, and the recent book deal signed by two of the pro-Israel lobbyâs most prominent and vocal critics, scholars Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer â are likely to trigger increased media and public scrutiny of the pro-Israel lobbyâs efforts to influence the decision-making process in Washington.” (The Forward)
CIA Contractor Retains Conviction
“A federal judge has denied a request from a former CIA contractor to overturn his conviction for assaulting an Afghan detainee who later died….
“‘The jurors heard evidence from eye witnesses regarding Abdul Wali’s brutal beating, his condition after the beating and expert testimony as to the internal injuries such blows were likely to cause,’ [U.S. District Judge Terrence] Boyle wrote. ‘Despite the defendant’s arguments to the contrary, substantial evidence supports the jury’s verdict in this case.'” (AP)
Federal Employee Pleads Guilty to Fraud
“A federal government worker faces up to 14 months in prison after admitting he stole colleagues’ credit card numbers to hire prostitutes.
“Shang Hsiung, a 54-year-old specialist in fuel cell technology for the Transportation Department, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of wire fraud. . . .
“The U.S. attorney’s office said he racked up at least $39,000 in charges while on work-related travel beginning around January 2001 and ending in March 2006.” (AP)
Weldon Sought Sestak Dirt from Navy
” E-mails recently forwarded to the Justice Department by a government watchdog group describe alleged efforts by staff of Congressman Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania to call Navy employees for information and negative statements about his Democratic opponent, retired Rear Admiral Joe Sestak.” (American Prospect)
Medicare and the Lobbyists
“Itâs well known that in his crusade to pass [Medicare prescription drug] bill, [Former House Majority Leader Tom] DeLay drew on more than 800 pharmaceutical-industry lobbyists, millions of dollars in campaign contributions, and the efforts of numerous business and healthcare groups. But this grossly flawed legislation could never have passed without the help of the same players who were central to Abramoffâs lobbying operation: Tony Rudy and Ed Buckham. . . This is the story of how this shadowy network helped saddle the American public with the Medicare drug billâthe biggest, most important piece of policy in which the dubious talents of Abramoffâs acolytes were brought to bear.” (Washington Monthly)
Spitzer Withdraws Endorsement of Hevesi
“Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the Democratic nominee for governor, withdrew his support from the embattled state comptroller, Alan G. Hevesi, on Thursday, and made it clear that he expected the State Senate to consider removing the comptroller from office for using a state employee to chauffeur his wife.” (NYTimes)
