Expert Declares Padilla Mentally Unfit for Trial
“Alleged al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla suffers from intense stress and anxiety after being imprisoned in isolation for years and cannot adequately help his lawyers prepare for a criminal trial, a mental expert testified Thursday.” Padilla is charged with helping al-Qaida operatives in North America provide supplies, money, and new recruits to other terrorist cells. (Time)
Day Three of Libby Deliberations
The jury in the perjury and obstruction case against Lewis “Scooter” Libby continues today with its third day of deliberations. In deciding the case, the jury must consider the reliability of “sloppy and often inconsistent” notes taken by Libby, FBI Agents, and New York Times reporter Judith Miller. (Associated Press)
5 Years in Prison for Oil-For-Food Conspiracy
“A judge sentenced a 71-year-old to five years in prison for participating in a conspiracy involving the United Nations’ oil-for-food program. U.S. District Judge Denny Chin said the sentence was harsh for a defendant in poor health, but said it was reasonable and appropriate for Tongsun Park, convicted of accepting at least $2 million to secretly work on Iraq’s behalf to influence the oil-for-food program. (Associated Press)
Education Department Inspector General Still Critical of “Reading First”
“The Department of Education Inspector General (IG) released another in a series of reports highly critical of the Reading First program, part of the Bush administration’s signature ‘No Child Left Behind Act.’” A previous IG report alleged that the program broke rules against controlling the curricula of individual schools. (CREW)
Veteran Lawyer Returns to White House
Having served as council to both the Nixon and Reagan administrations, Fred Fielding has been brought back to the White House to handle the anticipated legal fights with the Democratic Congress. Fielding hopes to use his experience to help the White House provide Congress information without “‘giving away the execute branch prerogatives.’” (The Boston Globe)