"The time has now come, however, to issue a partial apology to our readership for this story. While we paid very careful attention to the sourcing on this story, we erred in getting too far out in front of the news-cycle. In moving as quickly as we did, we caused more confusion than clarity. And that was a disservice to our readership and we regret it.* "After a recent report that he was not fully cooperating with ongoing probes, Randy Cunningham is ready to assist in a new examination of congressional corruption announced by the House ethics committee this week, his attorney said Thursday." (link)
As such, we will be taking the wait-and-see approach for the time being. We will keep you posted."
* "An AT&T attorney indicated in federal court on Wednesday that the Bush administration may have provided legal authorization for the telecommunications company to open its network to the National Security Agency.
Federal law may "authorize and in some cases require telecommunications companies to furnish information" to the executive branch, said Bradford Berenson, who was associate White House counsel when President Bush authorized the NSA surveillance program in late 2001" (link)
* "On March 8, 2004, after a private, chartered flight from Washington, Congressman Randy ''Duke" Cunningham checked into a luxury oceanfront suite at the Delano Hotel, a restored Art Deco jewel on Miami Beach. Prosecutors say the San Diego lawmaker, in town to shop for a yacht, racked up more than $15,000 in bills during the trip, including $848 in meals.
Court records show that Mitchell Wade, an ambitious defense contractor with deep pockets, picked up most of the tab." (link)
if i'm not mistaken, that is madonna's hotel. did the duke get some hankypanky?
* "Nevertheless, court papers indicate that the investigation that snared Cunningham -- in which the California Republican, now serving a 10-year sentence in federal prison, admitted that he took millions in bribes -- and led Wade to take a plea deal could go much deeper. At least three other federal investigations involving members of Congress are also underway, linked to questions about whether lawmakers traded the power and influence of their offices for hefty campaign contributions and lavish gifts.
''There is some increasing panic among members who worry that there may be e-mails in which they sort of promised to do something that is contemporaneous with campaign contributions," said Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution." (link)
contemporaneous promises...
* "BellSouth asked USA TODAY on Thursday to "retract the false and unsubstantiated statements" about the company that it contends were in a May 11 story about a database of domestic calling records maintained by the National Security Agency.
[]
BellSouth and two other companies named in the story, Verizon and AT&T, have since been sued in federal court for $200 billion by plaintiffs alleging violations of privacy, telecommunications law and the Constitution...
USA TODAY first contacted BellSouth more than five weeks ago. On the night before the story was published, the newspaper described the story in detail to BellSouth, and the company did not challenge the newspaper's account." (link)
* nyt via soto: "In the last 10 months, the state has issued new passports to 1.85 million Iraqis, 7 percent of the population and a quarter of the country's estimated middle class."
4 comments:
"There is some increasing panic among members who worry that there may be e-mails in which they sort of promised to do something..."
"Sort of promised"... is that like 'kinda dead' or 'a little pregnant'?
Truthout, your sources may have been axactly right, but when you're dealing with law breakers, you just neverr know what else may have emerged inbetween time. We can wait, as long as Fitz gets the most comprehsive charges he can.
'kinda dead'
reminds me of that movie gag (top secret?) where the phone rings, its the hospital, and the recipient says "ok tell me if his position changes" and then he hangs up and announces to the room: "jack's dead"
kathleen - i'm with you.
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