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Another Bush Administration Leaker?

Secretary of State Condolleezza Rice leaked classified information to two pro-Israel lobbyists, defense lawyers alleged in new court filings. Rice has been subpoenaed to testify in the case of Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman, two AIPAC lobbyists charged with receiving and mishandling state secrets. Through a spokesman, Rice called the assertion “utterly false.” But the defense lawyer for one of the men says, “This is not a stunt.” (LA Times, AP)

Politics Swirls Around CIA Leaker Firing

The political fallout has begun, following the CIA’s firing of Mary McCarthy on the grounds that she leaked sensitive information about secret agency-run prisons overseas. Democrats say the White House has a double-standard on leaks; the New York Times reports she was a closet Kerry supporter in 2004, which may have led the White House to target her. (New York Times, Washington Post)

A Very Costly Scottish Junket

You will be shocked, shocked! to learn that when Jack Abramoff whisked Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) and David Safavian, then chief of staff for the General Services Administration, off to Scotland for some golf, both of them drastically underreported the real cost of their expenses. Pretty much everything Ney has ever said about the trip has been proved false by this point. (Raw Story)

Congress: What, Me Reform?

The House GOP weakened lobbying reform efforts “in a bid to make lobbying reform legislation a better candidate for passage,” Roll Call reports. (Funny — we thought the way you made legislation pass was by voting for it, not tearing it apart.)

In particular, they “stripped out language forcing lobbyists to provide detailed disclosure of fundraising activities and contacts with lawmakers,” the paper said, and rolled back rules to curb 527 groups. (Roll Call)

Mollohan Bows Out

After weeks of pressure, Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.V.) has finally stepped down from his position as the ranking Democrat on the ethics committee. Mollohan is accused of misstating his financial assets and liabilities, in addition to suspicions about tens of millions in earmarks he’s sent to nonprofits in West Virginia, who all seem to be headed by his friends and business partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington D.C. has opened an investigation. See our coverage of the Mollohan affair here. ( WSJ, NYT, The Fix, AP)

And with Mollohan Gone – The Ethics Committee Comes Alive?

That’s what Chariman Doc Hastings (R-WA) seems to be saying. (Hotline)

The Revolving Door – Veterans Affairs Edition

Former Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony J. Principi left his government position to head a company that does big business with the VA. And we’re talking big numbers here: the company could ultimately reap $1 billion from contracts they won while he was heading the agency. He says he had nothing to do with the contracts, but was very friendly with the company execs while he was still Secretary. (LAT)

More Suspicious Earmarks from Ted Stevens

Sen. Stevens (R-AK), best known as the father of the Bridge to Nowhere, arranged an appropriations bill so that a former aide of his could ultimately get a good price on a building he owned. That’s the story here, anyway. It all revolves around one fat nonprofit Stevens has created through more than $50 million in earmarks in a small Alaskan town. (ADN)

In Other Muck

For those looking for something to do on April 26 in D.C., here’ the invitation for an RNC Rally that will only cost you $15,000 to rub elbows with lobbyists for big tobacco and others…(Harpers)

Covered This Weekend

The DeLay Foundation for Kids and Corporations…(link)

NBC Names Analyst Sacked for Leaking “Black Sites” Intel…(link)

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