Disappointing advocates of stricter gun laws, the Obama Justice Department is defending a midnight regulation that allows concealed firearms in national parks. Three groups, including the Brady Campaign, have filed a lawsuit to overturn the law. The Obama administration has countered that the rule will not affect the environment, public health or safety. Nonetheless, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has asked for a review of the rule. (Washington Post)
Texas state Rep. Lon Burnam (R) filed a resolution Monday to impeach a judge on the state’s Supreme Court. Burnam became concerned after Judge Sharon Keller refused to keep court offices open after five o’clock on the day that an inmate was scheduled to be executed. The inmate’s lawyer was unable to file an appeal in time and the man was executed. Burnam is seeking an investigation into Keller for gross neglect of duty. (Associated Press)
A conservative watchdog group has announced that it is suing the federal government to get access to details of how TARP funds were spent last fall. Freedom Watch founder Larry Klayman explained in a press release his concern that money was doled out to banks based on political influence, fueled in part by failure of the government to respond to a request for details filed under the Freedom of Information Act in December. (The Hill)
A Monroe, Georgia-based charity is the target of a federal investigation after authorities saw salaries of four top officers–a husband-wife pair and their two sons–spike by 550 percent, from $322,755 to $2.1 million. In recent years, the family donated nearly $50,000 to the GOP and conservative Republican candidates in the state, including Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Rep. John Linder. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Banco Santander, a significant victim of the alleged Bernard Madoff fraud, is expanding its attempt to compensate some of its clients for money they lost investing with the bank. The firm’s top clients are being offered stock in the company which they may also use as collateral for loans redeeming them of up to 85 percent (sub. req.) of their original investment. A spokesman for the bank has said that nearly three-quarters of clients have signed up for the offer and the banks expects to be able to get an overwhelming majority by the end of the month. Banco Santander is the first and so far only Madoff victim to offer some sort of compensation for client losses. (Wall Street Journal)
Speaking of Madoff, the toy business gets in on the scandal this week, at an industry fair in New York. Now for just $99.95, you can get a Madoff figurine, dressed in a red suit and with its very own pitchfork. The doll also comes with a hammer–so you can smash it. Act fast while supplies last! (Associated Press)
