FBI Assigns Record Number of Agents to Public Corruption Cases
“There is so much political corruption on Capitol Hill that the FBI has had to triple the number of squads investigating lobbyists, lawmakers and influence peddlers, the Daily News has learned.
“For decades, only one squad in Washington handled corruption cases because the crimes were seen as local offenses handled by FBI field offices in lawmakers’ home districts. . . .
“But in recent years, the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal and other abuses of power and privilege have prompted the FBI to assign 37 agents full-time to three new squads in an office near Capitol Hill.
“FBI Assistant Director Chip Burrus told The News yesterday that he wants to detail even more agents to the Washington field office for a fourth corruption squad because so much wrongdoing is being uncovered. . . .
“Two years ago, only 400 agents worked on public corruption cases. Now, 615 agents nationwide – including 30 in New York – are trying to nail public servants for betraying the public trust in 2,200 ongoing cases. . . .
“Burrus wouldn’t speculate about why there is so much graft, but said, ‘We have to pull the whole weed up or it’s just going to grow back again.'” (NY Daily News)
Burns Votes, Flies with Vonage
“Montana Sen. Conrad Burns, a Republican in a tight re-election race, flew on a private plane chartered by Vonage Holdings Corp. just days after he pushed legislation that the company has advocated for more than a year.
“Burns accompanied Vonage lobbyist Frank Cavaliere on the company’s chartered plane to and from the ’13th Annual Burns Classic Golf Weekend’ in Bigfork, Mont., on Saturday. Cavaliere and a Burns spokesman both confirmed the plane trip to The Associated Press on Monday.” (AP)
Senator Says Media Study Suppressed
“Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin on Monday ordered a formal investigation into why two agency reports on media ownership were never made public.
“Martin was responding to a request by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who earlier in the day made public a second FCC study that she says was shelved by agency officials.
Last week, Boxer released a draft of an FCC study that showed locally owned stations air more news than local stations controlled by outside owners. A lawyer with the FCC told The Associated Press last week that FCC managers ordered the destruction of that report; the lawyer is no longer with the agency.” (AP, Huff Post)
For Now, No Plans to Expel Ney
“Although Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) is preparing to plead guilty to federal corruption charges in an ongoing lobbying probe by the Justice Department, House Democrats will not call for his immediate expulsion from the chamber.” (Roll Call, sub. req.)
Ohio Lawmaker Who Took Illegal Gifts Rebuffs Calls to Resign
“Representative Bob Ney of Ohio, who agreed last week to plead guilty to federal corruption charges, has rebuffed demands that he resign, creating a dilemma for Republican strategists who want him off the public stage before he does any more harm to the party ahead of the November elections. . . .
“Congressional rules do not require the expulsion of a member of the House or the Senate convicted on criminal charges, which means that unless his colleagues act to oust him or he resigns, Mr. Ney could continue to draw his $165,200-a-year-salary until his term ends next January.” (NYTimes)
Chabot Aims Earmarks at Places Linked to Donors
“Several Cincinnati institutions with close ties to Rep. Steve Chabotâs (R-Ohio) top campaign supporters are in line to win $1.6 million in earmarks through the fiscal 2007 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill.” (The Hill)
Plea Deal Appears Likely in Illegal Reimbursement Case
“A former executive for a government engineering and construction contractor appeared in federal court Monday to face charges that he steered thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions to Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) in 2004.
“William Scott Deloach, a former chief financial officer for Florida-based PBS&J, appeared before a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami, having been charged for the âunlawful reimbursement of federal campaign contributions.â
“DeLoach and two others waived the indictments, indicating that a plea deal is likely, perhaps as early as this week or early next week.
“The one-time PBS&J CFO, the Justice Department claims, made at least six illegal ‘strawman’ contributions totaling more than $10,000 over the course of two days in October 2004.” (Roll Call, sub. req.)
Parties Vie for Edge on K Street
“With control of the House in the balance, the two parties have begun corralling their allies on K Street in a bid to strengthen ties going into the pivotal midterm elections.
“On Monday, top Democratic House staffers huddled with about 25 prominent Democratic lobbyists, just days after the chief of the House GOP campaign committee urged corporate allies to resist the impulse to give to Democrats as a way of hedging their bets.
“‘It was to say, “We need to more actively reach out to you and want to work with you,”‘ said one lobbyist who attended the meeting. ‘It was a recognition that people around the room have some good input.'” (Roll Call) (sub. req.)
Candidates Find It Hard To Shake Scandal
“Politicians and pollsters say this year, widespread voter dissatisfaction with Congress has the electorate in a less forgiving mood. This campaign season also is marked by a number of close contests, making politicians vulnerable to charges of ethical lapses — and raising the political stakes if the charges stick.” (WSJ)
Wife of Disgraced U.S. contractor Arrested in Germany
“A case that yielded a US$10 million civil fraud verdict over Iraq reconstruction efforts has produced another twist: The German-born wife of an American military contractor accused of cheating U.S. taxpayers has been arrested on suspicion of laundering at least $2 million of her husband’s allegedly ill-gotten gains.
“Prosecutor David Kirkpatrick confirmed Monday that Jacqueline Battles was being held in ‘investigative custody’ in connection with hundreds of thousands of euros (dollars) which passed through her bank accounts.” (AP)
Senate Business at the Mercy of a ‘Hold’
“Holds are effective because so much of the Senate’s work is done through unanimous, bipartisan agreements to structure debates or to pass bills. All it takes is for one senator to object to such “unanimous consent” to stall a bill or nominee.
“Senators, however, rarely have to troop to the floor to voice their objections. Instead, they notify the party cloakroom that they are lodging a hold and rely on the party leaders to enforce it.” (AP)
Report: N.J. Senator Had No-Work Job
“A powerful southern New Jersey politician was paid for a no-work job at a scandal-ridden state university while helping the school garner millions of dollars in new state funding, according to a report released Monday.
“The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey paid state Sen. Wayne Bryant, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, $35,000 a year “to lobby himself in his capacity of state senator,” according to the report of a federal monitor who had investigated the school’s finances.” (AP)
