Abramoff Probers Examine Payments to DeLay’s Wife
“The Justice Department’s congressional lobbying-and-bribery investigation is looking into whether former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s wife received money from a lobbying firm for a no-show job, recent FBI interviews indicate.
“In the last few weeks, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents have interviewed several people at the Alexander Strategy Group lobbying firm to determine if Christine DeLay was being paid $3,200 a month — a total of $115,000 over three years — but not earning it. In a series of interviews last month, investigators questioned people who used to work at Alexander Strategy as well as people who worked in the same building as the now-defunct firm. “They wanted to know how often she came to the office? What did she do there? How long was she there?” said one person who was interviewed by the FBI.
“Alexander Strategy was run by a pair of Mr. DeLay’s former aides: Tony Rudy, who pleaded guilty to bribery charges in March; and Edwin Buckham, who remains under investigation. The firm also shared clients with Jack Abramoff.” (WSJ)
GOP Senators Differ With President on Military Trials
“Key Republican senators have drafted a legislative plan for special military trials of suspected terrorists that diverges from a recent Bush administration plan by granting defendants rights that the White House has sought to proscribe, government officials said yesterday.
“Under the lawmakers’ plan, any future military trials of the nearly 200 eligible U.S. detainees held in military prisons at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and other locations around the world would be governed by a law that explicitly ensures that defendants have the right to know the evidence against them.” (WaPo)
In AK, Veco Corp. Contributions Picked up over Past Two Years
“The four Veco Corp. executives named in an FBI warrant used to raid six Alaska legislators’ offices have long been top Republican donors, but the money really started rolling in when natural gas pipeline talks heated up.
“[Veco execs] Allen, Leathard and Chan themselves elaborated on their political interests in an October 2004 newsletter to Veco employees. The three co-authored an article in which they called that election critical to the company’s future.
‘”The right people in the White House, the U.S. Capitol and the Alaska State Legislature make a huge impact on oil and gas resource development and on the economy of Alaska,’ they wrote.” (AP)
Feds Want Longer Sentence for GOP Coingate Felon
“A prominent GOP fundraiser who pleaded guilty to funneling $45,000 to President Bush’s re-election campaign should get more prison time than originally recommended because he made other illegal contributions to candidates in Ohio, prosecutors said Tuesday….
“He used friends and associates to give money illegally to three candidates for the Ohio Supreme Court and two who were running for governor, prosecutors said.
“The documents filed in U.S. District Court did not reveal any names or the amount of money allegedly involved and did not specify how much additional time prosecutors think Noe should serve.” (AP, Toledo Blade)
Republican Rift Over Wiretapping Widens
“Deepening Republican divisions over the future of President Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program may jeopardize GOP leaders’ hopes of making terrorism surveillance legislation a centerpiece of their final legislative push this month….
“Republican leaders have planned to produce legislation by month’s end that would give the administration as much latitude as possible to continue the program. But that effort may be splintering. The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider as many as four contradictory bills on the issue tomorrow and could approve all of them. That would leave it to Senate leaders and the White House to sort out how to proceed.” (WaPo)
Frist Holds Up Intelligence Authorization Bill
“Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, wary of giving Democrats an opportunity to revisit contentious issues relating to the Iraq War, is not going to bring an intelligence authorization bill to the floor this month and may shelve the measure entirely, senior leadership aides say….
“The failure to pass an authorization bill for two consecutive years would further neuter the Intelligence panels.Without it, the House and Senate committees would have no say in providing the intelligence community with strategic and financial guidance.” (CQ)
Family Suit Against Blackwater Security Firm Advances
“A lawsuit filed against Blackwater USA, a private security firm, for the wrongful deaths of four employees
who were killed while working in Iraq will move forward in North Carolina state court following attempts by the company to move the case to federal court….
“In the lawsuit, the families of the men say Blackwater cut corners in protecting them by not complying with safety requirements outlined in the company’s contract for the mission. For example, Blackwater sent the men out in unarmored vehicles, rather than the safer and more expensive armored vehicles. Lawyers for the families contend that Blackwater simply pocketed the difference in cost between the armored and unarmored vehicles.” (The Blotter)
Clock Ticks on Lobby Reforms
“Facing Democratic charges theyâve presided over a âdo-nothing Congress,â Republican leaders are trying to salvage a last-minute deal out of their four-month, intraparty standoff on lobbying reform.
“Republican aides said they are no closer to ironing out differences in the bills than they were over the summer, when a staring contest over the House-passed provision cracking down on 527s derailed progress.
“But even with chances of a breakthrough slim, top GOP lawmakers in both chambers are preparing to tackle narrow portions of the bill â at least those addressing earmark reform â with simple rules changes.” (Roll Call, sub. req.)
Collection Agencies To Take Over Some Collection for IRS
“Despite congressional opposition and criticism from a federal employee union and a taxpayer advisory panel, the IRS is giving three collection agencies information on 12,500 taxpayers who owe less than $25,000 and have not disputed the debt….
“IRS officials say the plan involves smaller cases that federal agents wouldn’t otherwise have time to pursue. The profit potential is large. The collection companies will keep up to 24% of what they recover. That amounts to as much as $336 million of the $1.4 billion the IRS projects the program will recover during the next decade.” (USA Today)
Veterans Group Backing Lieberman
“Sen. Joe Lieberman’s re-election bid is getting some outside help from a group grateful for the lawmaker’s support for the Iraq war. Vets for Freedom, an independent group with Republican ties, will air an ad in Connecticut Wednesday and Thursday featuring veterans from the state who thank the three-term incumbent for backing the conflict.” (AP)
Both Sides in Horse Slaughter Debate Rally Forces on Capitol Hill
“Scores of animal right activists and horse lovers, including the family of country music legend Willie Nelson, rallied near the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday in support of legislation to outlaw three U.S. plants that slaughter horses for overseas consumption.
“At the same time, opponents of the legislation, which the House will consider later this week, reiterated arguments that the bill could undermine the humane disposal of unwanted horses and vowed to lobby aggressively against the measure in advance of Thursday’s showdown vote. ” (McClatchy)
Ariz. Senate Candidate’s Son Sentenced
“The son of a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate was sentenced Tuesday to two years of probation and 600 hours of community service on two drug convictions.
“James Pederson, the 24-year-old son of Senate candidate Jim Pederson, had pleaded guilty last month to a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia and a felony charge of attempted production of marijuana.” (AP)
