Inauguration officials have admitted that the music played by a quartet including Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman was in fact taped. Carole Florman, a spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies acknowledged on Thursday that the cold temperatures on Tuesday morning made a live performance impossible. The taped sounds were recorded by the quartet two days earlier. (New York Times)
Lawyers for embattled Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich are considering a lawsuit to halt an impeachment trial they describe as “completely unfair.” Blagojevich himself has said that he has no intention to mount a defense unless the trial’s rules are changed by the Illinois Supreme Court so that he may call witnesses and subpoena documents. (Associated Press)
An upcoming report by the Government Accountability Office focusing on the Veterans Affairs Department is expected to highlight the Bush administration’s inability to properly plan for the treatment of veterans. The report, to be released Friday, finds the budget for the VA to be seriously flawed, understating by millions of dollars the costs for treating thousands of patients. (Associated Press)
A Pennsylvania defense contractor with deep ties to Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) saw its offices raided by the FBI yesterday. The company received earmarks in the 2008 budget at the request of Murtha that are valued at $8.2 million. (The Hill)
Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain resigned yesterday under fire, in part due to revelations that he had spent $1.2 million redecorating his office. The sum includes an $800,000 fee paid to interior decorator Michael Smith, who will next help President Obama redecorate the White House. (ABC News)