With top party leaders like Tom DeLay, Karl Rove, and Bill Frist under investigation, it's clear that a deep culture of corruption pervades the Republican Party. Whether it's putting unqualified cronies in positions of power, skirting campaign finance laws, or abusing their power to smear their enemies, Republicans will do whatever it takes to achieve their political ends, no matter how unethical or even illegal.
The parade of embarrassing John McCain advisers continues. This week? Top foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann is tied to the "cash for access" lobbyist, Stephen Payne. Houston Chronicle: Over that week, more questions have been raised about the Houston lobbyist's...
The New York Times discovers an Abramoff connection among the "bundlers" raising money for John McCain's campaign -- "Juan Carlos Benitez, a lawyer and lobbyist whom Mr. Abramoff had championed for a Bush administration post." Benitez has raised between $50,000 to $100,000 for McCain, and the campaign doesn't appear willing to return any of the contributions:
And CREW has filed an ethics complaint in response. From TPM Muckraker:
The Democratic National Committee today launched a new website that highlights the dismal records and misleading rhetoric of John McCain's top three economic advisors. With Senator McCain admitting that "economics is something that I've really never understood as well as I should," the question of who is shaping his economic agenda is important to determining what direction he intends to lead the country. The new site , "McCain's Economic Advisors: With Advisors Like These..." highlights the failed, flawed and out of touch policies championed by advisors like Phil Gramm, Carly Fiorina, and Doug Holtz-Eakin.
After years of saying he opposed drilling in our coastal waters, Senator McCain changed his position and has embraced President Bush's vision for offshore drilling. On CBS's Face the Nation, McCain advisor Carly Fiorina tried to defend John McCain's decision to cave in to Big Oil. First, she said Senator McCain changed his mind because he wants to confront rising gas prices. Even the Bush Administration and a former McCain advisor admit that drilling in coastal waters will do nothing to reduce the price for decades. But industry experts, the Bush Administration and even former McCain advisors admit that drilling in coastal waters will do nothing to reduce the price of gas for decades. Fiorina claimed Senator McCain is "approaching the subject of off-shore drilling in a sensible way." But just yesterday one McCain surrogate cited Fidel Castro's beachfront oil rigs to defend McCain's reversal.
The Democratic National Committee today filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the U.S. Department of State seeking information about possible violations of the Hatch Act in connection to John McCain's events in Ottawa today. The FOIA request follows reports that McCain campaign officials requested assistance in arranging a $100-a-plate luncheon speech from U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins.
It's the latest scandal for Team McCain.
John McCain has spent months defending himself from charges that he weighed in on behalf of his lobbyist friends to steer a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract toward a European defense contractor. Despite the fact that seven of his top strategists and fundraisers lobbied for the company, Senator McCain insisted that he "had nothing to do with the contract, except to insist in writing, on several occasions, as this process went forward, that it be fair and open and transparent." In reality, Senator McCain intervened at key steps in the process, echoing the arguments of the EADS/Airbus consortium each time.
Despite his campaign promise to set a "new standard for transparency and accountability," the Wall Street Journal today reports that John McCain is refusing to pay for his campaign's use of a corporate jet. Despite his previous efforts to restrict the use of corporate jets, McCain's campaign failed to reimburse the cost of "several trips last year that included campaign-related activity." The story quotes two Republican campaign lawyers saying McCain should have paid for the flights.
From an email by Governor Dean:
C-SPAN's ratings are about to jump up again real soon. Think Progress: Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) invited former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan to testify before the Committee at a June 20th hearing about reported...
In a draft report [PDF] to be issued by the House Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles, Calif.), that details the close ties between the Bush administration and disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and associates. The House Committee...
John McCain says he'll take on lobbyists... but, his inner circle is full of lobbyists:
Today's McCain Myth: John McCain would run a transparent government as president.
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles, Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, wants the FBI transcripts from the interviews conducted with President Bush and Vice President Cheney about the CIA leak case, and is going to Attorney General Michael Mukasey to get them.
Did the Jack Abramoff scandal claim another Republican crook?
It's one-after-another when it comes to John McCain and lobbying scandals. Former Republican Texas Senator Phil Gramm, a national campaign general co-chair for John McCain, was being paid by a Swiss bank, UBS, to lobby Congress on the mortgage crisis in the United States. Forbes says UBS is among the banks worst hit by the global credit crisis.
Ask not what your lobbyists can do for you, ask what you can do for your lobbyists:
McCain right-hand man/lobbyist ties to Putin-backed political party raises some eyebrows:
On the same day John McCain gave a speech aimed at repositioning himself as a "moderate" for the general election by claiming to be a "conservationist," the Washington Post highlights Senator McCain's true priorities.
'You Scratch My Back I'll Scratch Yours' McCain pushed key land deal for fundraiser:
The Coconut Rd. earmark is gaining more and more attention. I've focused on some of the Republican infighting over who is to blame. The Anchorage Daily News, though, makes a more important point -- that there are still a lot of unanswered questions that Rep. Don Young has failed to address.
Republican Party infighting over Coconut Rd:
John McCain says that, if elected president, he would nominate Supreme Court justices in the mold of Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito.
For weeks now, John McCain has broken campaign finance law by going over the spending limits that he agreed to when he opted into public financing in order to secure a loan and get his name on the ballot in several states.
We've gone over this before, but Media Matters "Action Network" illustrates it so nicely. You'll want to check out this graphic showing the many lobbyists and former lobbyists on board the McCain campaign, which is more than any other candidate in the race.
A while back we filed an FEC complaint against John McCain, asking them to investigate whether the McCain campaign was on the verge of violating the spending limit law he agreed to when he became eligible to receive matching funds.
McCain's numerous lobbyist connections raise some eyebrows:
It's never a good idea.
From CNN, via Cliff Schecter's blog:
Today's McCain Myth: McCain would have an open and transparent presidency.
In February, John McCain stood in front of the cameras and addressed a lobbying scandal by claiming that "at no time have I ever done anything that would betray the public trust or make a decision which in any way would not be in the public interest or would favor anyone or organization."
Today's McCain Myth: John McCain is an impartial watchdog in the Air Force tanker deal.
We know McCain's campaign is filled with lobbyists. We know at least one of those lobbyists does his lobbying work from inside of the so-called "Straight Talk Express."
The Washington Post "fact-checker" takes on McCain's statement that he's the only candidate who doesn't take money from special interests -- a claim they conclude is clearly false.
McCain's ethics woes throwback to Keating scandal:
It turns out McCain's campaign misled reporters about their Kentucky ballot application.
McCain's no-good very-bad week continues, as his placement on the Ohio ballot raises questions. The New York Times put it this way:
Enjoy this video the Democratic Party put together. Imagine somebody's ethics problems being so troubling that he can be lectured about it by Bush, of all people.
"In the 2006 Senate report concerning Abramoff's activities, which McCain spearheaded, the Arizona Republican conspicuously left out information detailing how Alabama Gov. Bob Riley was targeted by Abramoff's influence peddling scheme."
Today we're filing a complaint with the FEC against John McCain's campaign. In the complaint, we ask them to investigate whether the McCain campaign is about to violate the spending limit law he agreed to when he became eligible to receive matching funds.
What is it with ethically-challenged Republican leaders getting standing ovations?
Goodbye, credibility.
Duke Cunningham briber, Bush Pioneer, and defense contractor Brent Wilkes is actually kind of lucky that he's only getting 12 years in prison, thanks to the new ruling by the judge in the case.
The latest, from CREW, on what they claim are over 10 million White House emails not properly saved:
John McCain's principles took another hit this weekend. While McCain has tried to convince voters that he stood up to the Republican culture of corruption in Washington, McCain showed his true colors by trying to advance his political career by cozying up to Karl Rove.
I suppose this means his office is no longer "happy as a clam."
The Los Angeles Times reports that the head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel wrote to Attorney General Mukasey that the Justice Department "repeatedly 'impeded'" his investigation into the polarization of the department under Alberto Gonzales.
Huckabee's ever-growing list of ethics complaints gets a little bit longer:
In an interview with National Journal, former Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte, confirmed the use of waterboarding as an interrogation tactic by the Bush administration.
You might remember Brent Wilkes, the defense contractor convicted of bribing Republican Congressman Duke Cunningham. Well, now it appears that federal probation officials have recommended that he serve 60 years in prison.
Mike Huckabee recalls the tale thusly: "At a campaign stop in Michigan yesterday, a woman came up to me and said 'I don't have any money but I want to give you something for the campaign.' Then she reached out to me and gave me a gold ring."
Still under a corruption investigation for his role in a lobbying scandal, Republican Congressman John Doolittle announced he's retiring from Congress at the end of this term.
The White House now has five business days to tell the court whether their backup system for emails -- which ensures they aren't deleted -- has the alleged millions of missing emails they're required to keep.
Over at TPM, Josh Marshall flagged down an article giving some rough details about how the Justice Department allegedly slowed down a probe into the New Hampshire phone jamming scandal.
"...more extensive than Bush administration officials have acknowledged."
For the past couple years, CREW has been fighting the White House for what they believe are public records -- when Jack Abramoff and conservative religious leaders visited the White House.
We've done a couple of these today, highlighting the awards to be given tomorrow by Talking Points Memo; here's one more, the big prize for Best Scandal - General Interest.
Tomorrow Talking Points Memo will unveil the winners of the Golden Dukes (aka "the Dukeys") -- awards given for corruption and scandal in government.
Maybe Huckabee was just helping to spread the giving spirit throughout the year. But apparently, as governor, Huckabee thought it was better to receive -- thousands of dollars worth of gifts from donors, staff and appointees -- ignoring the obvious ethical concerns.
Tomorrow Talking Points Memo will unveil the winners of the Golden Dukes (aka "the Dukeys") -- awards given for corruption and scandal in government.
"Rudolph W. Giuliani’s consulting firm was hired in 2002 to help a Florida company build its business under a contract that called for Mr. Giuliani’s firm to be paid in part for lining up work with the federal government and other clients, company records show."
Giuliani continues to offer questionable excuses on Judi security expenses:
Now that Scooter Libby dropped his appeal, the White House can no longer use the excuse that there's an ongoing criminal proceeding to avoid answering questions about their role in leaking the identity of a covert CIA agent. That's still not stopping them from trying anyway.
For years the Bush administration refused to discuss their actions surrounding the outing of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame, claiming that an "ongoing investigation" prevented it. When Libby was found guilty on counts of perjury and obstructing justice, they said...
Giuliani won't release client list or cut ties with his firm.
The response is two-fold. One, confirm/deny nothing. Two, attack the messenger (CREW). First, there's this WH claim (emphasis mine):
That's double the original estimate of 5 million missing emails from the Executive Office of the President between March 2003 and October 2005. These emails are unrelated to the RNC emails that also disappeared from their server, which were used by members of the Bush administration.
Congress is getting to the bottom of the leaking of a covert CIA agent, despite a former White House official being found guilty of lying and obstructing justice. Yet the White House is currently preventing Fitzgerald from handing over "key documents," according to a new letter from Rep. Waxman.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) today said that several current and former White House officials, including Karl Rove and Josh Bolten, 'must comply with committee subpoenas to testify' about the U.S. attorney scandal."
Former Giuliani fundraiser pleads guilty to tax charges:
Loyalty trumps all in Giuliani's circle:
It's yet another investigation into the alleged deals of an Alaska Republican legislator. This time, it's Rep. Don Young involved, and according to "people close to the corruption investigation," they're looking at whether an oil contractor was funneling cash through golf tournaments with cash prizes.
TPM Muckraker has the story:
Bernie Kerik and Rudy Giuliani have been the best of friends. We put together a presentation to shed some light on how we got to where we are today, with Kerik indicted on 16 felony counts.
Washington, DC -- Upon hearing the news that Bernard Kerik would be indicted on multiple corruption charges, Rudy Giuliani refused to say whether or not he would pardon his long time friend. Having helped shepherd Kerik's career, evidence suggests that Giuliani knew about Kerik's ethical problems and still promoted him from driver in his 1993 mayoral campaign to New York City's Corrections Department Commissioner to the city's police chief to business partner. [Daily News, 11/09/07]
ABC News is reportin that Bernard Kerik will be indicted, causing more headaches for the Giuliani campaign that continues to stand by him.
A FEDERAL GRAND JURY HAS VOTED TO INDICT EX-N.Y. CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER BERNARD KERIK ON CHARGES STEMMING FROM TAX EVASION AND CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS, SOURCES TELL ABC NEWS.
Despite evidence showing that Rudy Giuliani knew about Bernard Kerik's ethical problems and still promoted his once-close friend throughout his career, Rudy astonishingly continues to claim ignorance.
Feds say Kerik will be indicted:
The San Diego Union Tribune's news blog is reporting that Brent Wilkes has been found guilty of using more than $600,000 trying to bribe former Republican congressman Randy Duke Cunningham.
Now Kerik being sued for ‘stiffing’ his lawyers:
Many of you will remember Mitchell Wade from the 2006 campaign. His name came up in the campaigns of Rep. Virgil Goode and Rep. Katharine Harris. Harris, in particular, famously had a $2,800 dinner tab picked up by Wade.
From ThinkProgress:
Back in April, CREW discovered that the "Executive Office of the President (EOP) has lost over five million emails generated between March 2003 and October 2005." In addition, CREW stated in April, they took no actions to recover the missing emails.
"Rudy Giuliani's law partner has been told to monitor the criminal probe of disgraced ex-NYPD boss Bernard Kerik, which threatens to muddy up the former mayor's bid to become president."
It's been a while since there were any developments in this particular scandal. Last we heard, there were over 5 million emails that went missing, even though they have to be saved under the Presidential Records Act.
Private contractors working for Blackwater USA have killed innocent Iraqi civilians--and the State Department has covered up the incidents.
The State Department has ordered Blackwater USA, the private security firm under investigation for killing Iraqi civilians, not to disclose information about its Iraqi operations without Bush administration approval--setting the stage for another showdown between Congress and the White House.
We knew that the Veco briber gave the Feds evidence on Senator Stevens, but what we didn't know until last night was that the FBI "secretly taped telephone calls with Sen. Ted Stevens as part of a public corruption sting."
Bush wants to expand spying powers, even though his intelligence officers have misled Congress about its effectiveness.
A crucial vote will take place today at 10:30 am ET, when the Senate will hold a cloture vote on legislation that would restore habeas corpus--a safeguard against illegal imprisonment that is essential to civil liberties. Democrats in the Senate need 60 votes to overcome the Republican filibuster of this important legislation.
Don't count on learning anything more about Dick Cheney's secrets from his archives.
Veco CEO Bill Allen, who admitted to spending more than $400,000 in bribes for various legislators, now says that's "including for work done at the Girdwood, Alaska, home of Stevens."
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is quietly leaving today, after a tenure at the Justice Department racked with scandal. Here's a quick look at the highlights of his time in office.
Bush's top spy chief admits that he misled Congress when he claimed that a controversial new eavesdropping law helped foil a German bomb plot last week--even though it didn't.
Big news on the phone jamming front:
That foot tapping you hear isn't coming from Craig; it's coming from GOP Senate leaders waiting for him to resign.
The Democratic Party's research team has put together a list of more than 50 recent Republican resignations, pleas, sentences and scandals, with links for your convenience. Enjoy!
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who tenure has been marked by scandal and accusations of perjury, has resigned.
