Kentucky GOP Pol Found With Slit Wrists After Shooting Death Of Ex-Fiancée

Zachary Roth | September 11, 2009, 3:54PM

Fmr. State Rep. Steve Nunn (R-KY)

For the last few days, we've all been transfixed by the tawdry spectacle out of California, in which a married Republican family values crusader has gotten his comeuppance after being exposed -- with the aid of a hot mic -- as a repulsive sexual braggard.

But a very different story about the personal life of a state-level Republican politician has been playing out today down in Kentucky -- one that's far stranger and more tragic. Indeed, with its themes of love, death, violence, and bourbon, and its suggestion of a son struggling to live up to the accomplishments of his father, it's almost a modern-day Southern Gothic.

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Bradley Schlozman

No Perjury Charges For Schlozman -- Schumer Calls Decision "Disappointing"

Zachary Roth | September 11, 2009, 1:57PM

Bradley J. Schlozman

The Schloz can breathe a sigh of relief.

The Justice Department has decided to uphold the Bush administration's decision not to charge former Bush DOJ official Bradley Schlozman with perjury in connection with his testimony about politicized hiring at DOJ. The news was contained in a letter from Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich to Sen. Chuck Schumer, which was obtained by TPMmuckraker.

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Michael Duvall

Duvall's Listener Removed From Ethics Committee As Rumors Spread On Who Tipped Media To Comments

Zachary Roth | September 11, 2009, 12:50PM

It turns out that "Hot Mike" Duvall wasn't the only lawmaker to take a political hit from the exposure of his lewd sexual braggadocio.

Yesterday, the colleague who sat next to him and heard his raunchy tales, fellow Republican Jeff Miller, was removed from the Ethics committee which is probing the scandal. But could Miller, whose Orange County district is close to Duvall's, have been more than just a passive listener in this scandal?

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Bonner: We're "Being Unjustly Blamed" -- We Didn't Forge 14 Letters! It Was Only 13!

Zachary Roth | September 11, 2009, 11:18AM

Jack Bonner

In the annals of damage control strategies, this one from Bonner & Associates may go down as one of the least effective ever: We may have forged 13 letters to lawmakers about climate change, on behalf of our coal industry client. But definitely not 14!

Yesterday we reported that congressional investigators had found a fourteenth forged letter to a lawmaker criticizing the recent climate change bill, purporting to come from a Virginia American Legion post, but actually sent by Bonner, the Washington-based astroturf lobbying firm, on behalf of a coal-industry client.

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Mark Sanford

Embattled Sanford Pleads To Tell His "Side Of The Story"

Zachary Roth | September 10, 2009, 4:20PM

Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC)

In another freewheeling performance in front of the cameras this afternoon, Mark Sanford accused state lawmakers of trying to railroad him out of office, and demanded that he be given a chance to present his "side of the story."

"It is not OK to short-circuit an ethics process to try and get the result that you want," said the beleaguered governor, referring to an ethics inquiry that's focused on his decision to leave the state in the lurch when he visited his Argentinean mistress, and his use of state aircraft.

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ACCCE

Yet Another Forged Climate Change Letter From Bonner

Zachary Roth | September 10, 2009, 3:20PM

Jack Bonner

Congressional investigators have found yet another forged letter to a lawmaker -- purporting to be from a local group, but really sent by the DC astroturf lobbying firm Bonner & Associates on behalf of a coal industry client -- criticizing climate change legislation. That brings the known total to fourteen, sent to at least three different members of Congress.

The new letter is on the letterhead of an American Legion post in Rocky Mount, Virginia. Like many of the others, it was sent to Rep. Tom Perriello. It asks the Democratic congressman to "make sure the Waxman-Markey bill includes provisions to promote American energy independence, while protecting already cash-strapped constituents from increases in electricity prices." It concludes, "Thank you for listening to concerns of vets in your district."

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Justice Department

Justice To Probe Decision To Drop "New Black Panther" Voter Intimidation Case

Zachary Roth | September 10, 2009, 2:49PM

The Justice Department's internal ethics unit has opened an investigation into the decision to drop a voter intimidation complaint against members of the New Black Panther Party, the Washington Times reported yesterday.

In a letter sent late last month, Mary Patrice Brown, who runs DOJ's Office of Professional Responsibility, told Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) that OPR had "initiated an inquiry into the matter."

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Bill Richardson

Witness: Richardson And Party Left Scene Of Boat Accident Within Minutes

Zachary Roth | September 10, 2009, 11:18AM

Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM)

Hmmmm.....

The New Mexico Independent reports:

Gov. Bill Richardson, his chief of staff Brian Condit, budget secretary Katherine Miller and security officers were gone within minutes from the scene of an accident Saturday in which a houseboat was sideswiped and another was smashed into at Elephant Butte State Park, according to an eyewitness.

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Lobbyists

Duvall Probe Could Look At Other Lawmaker-Lobbyist Affairs

Zachary Roth | September 10, 2009, 10:39AM

Here are the additional major developments in the "Hot Mike" Duvall story, in which the married California GOP lawmaker and family values crusader resigned yesterday after a hot mic picked up his bragging to a colleague about his sexual encounters with two women -- one of whom is reportedly a lobbyist for an energy company before the committee of which he is vice chair:

• Duvall's resignation will not stop lawmakers from investigating the matter, including whether Duvall traded votes or other influence on utilities issues for sex, according to Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, a Democrat. Indeed, one member of the ethics panel that will oversee the investigation told the Los Angeles Times that it could expand to look at other lawmakers' affairs with lobbyists.

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Michael Duvall

Duvall Denies "Reports That He Had An Affair"

Zachary Roth | September 10, 2009, 10:10AM

Mike Duvall now seems to be denying having affairs with the two women he was caught bragging about sleeping with.

In a new statement on his campaign website, Duvall writes:

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Lobbyists

Duvall Lobbyist Denying "Speculative Media Reports"

Zachary Roth | September 9, 2009, 5:41PM

Heidi DeJong Barsuglia

Is Heidi DeJong Barsuglia, the energy lobbyist named in press reports as being the subject of Mike Duvall's filthy sexual boasting, denying that she was involved with the married Republican lawmaker, who resigned this afternoon? [SEE LATE UPDATE BELOW]

Sempra Energy, where Barsuglia works, just released the following statement:

Sempra Energy takes very seriously any reports involving the conduct of our employees. We are investigating this matter and the recent media reports that named one of our employees. The employee has denied the speculative media reports. Our investigation will be conducted to ensure not only that our policies on employee conduct are strictly adhered to, but also that our employee is treated fairly.

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Lobbyists

Progressive Group Wants Duvall "Sex-For-Votes" Probe

Zachary Roth | September 9, 2009, 5:22PM

A progressive California group is calling for an investigation into whether "Hot Mike" Duvall
sold his votes for sex.

"A vice-chairman of the Committee on Utilities and Commerce was literally in bed with Sempra Energy's lobbyist," said Rick Jacobs of the Courage Campaign in a statement. "Assemblyman Duvall's 'sex for votes' affairs have cheated Californians out of honest government. We call on the attorney general to investigate Mr. Duvall to see if he can be prosecuted for selling his votes."

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Michael Duvall

Duvall Won "Ethics In America" Award

Zachary Roth | September 9, 2009, 4:44PM

Mike Duvall, the California GOP lawmaker and married family values champion who just resigned after a hot mic picked up his graphic bragging to a colleague about two affairs, was in 2000 awarded the "Ethics in America" award by a local university, for his "demonstration of the highest standards of ethical integrity" as a community leader with the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce, according to a 2008 press release on Duvall's state government website (the site has now been dismantled.)

We'll let you make your own joke.

Lobbyists

Duvall Resigns After Sex Bragging

Zachary Roth | September 9, 2009, 4:05PM

That was quick. Mike Duvall has resigned from public office.

In a statement on his campaign website, he wrote:

I am deeply saddened that my inappropriate comments have become a major distraction for my colleagues in the Assembly, who are working hard on the very serious problems facing our state. I have come to the conclusion that it would not be fair to my family, my constituents or to my friends on both sides of the aisle to remain in office. Therefore, I have decided to resign my office, effective immediately, so that the Assembly can get back to work.

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Lobbyists

Duvall: I Thought It Was A Private Conversation

Zachary Roth | September 9, 2009, 3:26PM

Mike Duvall, the married California GOP lawmaker and family values champion, has apologized for telling a colleague, in a conversation picked up on a hot mic, about his affairs with two women.

He posted the following statement on his campaign website:

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Sex

GOP Lawmaker's Graphic Sex-Bragging Caught On Tape

Zachary Roth | September 9, 2009, 11:45AM

We've all seen those stories where a careless politician gets a little too candid when speaking into a hot mic. But this one's really in a whole different league.

[RELATED SLIDESHOW: TPM'S HISTORY OF THE SEX-SCANDALOUS FALL OF THE MODERN CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT]

Michael Duvall is a conservative Republican state representative from Orange County, California. While waiting for the start of a legislative hearing in July, the 54-year-old married father of two and family values champion began describing, for the benefit of a colleague seated next to him, his ongoing affairs with two different women. In very graphic detail.

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Allen Weh

Iglesias Responds: Weh "May Not Even Be Literate"

Zachary Roth | September 9, 2009, 9:47AM

Allen Weh and David Iglesias

We told you yesterday about Allen Weh's hilarious claim that, in working to get David Iglesias fired as U.S. attorney because he wasn't prioritizing bogus voter fraud cases that would help Republicans, Weh, then the state GOP chair, was actually going against his party.

And now, Iglesias has responded. In a lengthy statement to TPMmuckraker, Iglesias calls Weh's claim "a world class display of chutzpah," and writes that Weh, who yesterday formally announced his campaign for New Mexico governor, "may not be in touch with reality or may not even be literate."

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Mark Sanford

Sanford: I Shouldn't Resign Because "God Can Use Imperfect People To Perform His Will"

Zachary Roth | September 8, 2009, 6:23PM

Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC)

Even as the Speaker of the South Carolina House calls for his resignation, Mark Sanford is remaining defiant.

"God can use imperfect people to perform his will," declared the embattled governor moments ago, explaining in a radio interview that he needs to stick around in office to carry out God's will by working to restructure state government to make it more effective.

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Justice Department

GOPer Who Helped Oust Iglesias Claims He Was Bucking His Party

Zachary Roth | September 8, 2009, 11:28AM

Allen Weh and David Iglesias

Hard to match this for chutzpah...

Allen Weh is running for the Republican nomination for governor of New Mexico. You'll remember Weh from the U.S. attorneys scandal, in which, as chair of the state GOP, he played a key role in pressing the Bush administration, successfully, to fire David Iglesias.

And in talking himself up in a Democratic-leaning state, Weh has been claiming that the Iglesias firing shows he's capable of taking on his own party!

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David Bradley

Texan Critic Of Obama's 'Indoctrination' Speech Backs Actual Indoctrination In Textbooks

Justin Elliott | September 7, 2009, 5:46PM

Newt Gingrich and Phyllis Schlafly

Conservatives have spent the last week whipping themselves into a frenzy over President Obama's speech tomorrow in which he will indoctrinate the nation's schoolchildren using the instruments of mass media.

As it turns out, Obama's speech will be pretty anodyne. But one vocal critic of Obama's plans, has long been involved in an effort to actually indoctrinate students -- through the state-sanctioned textbooks they study all year.

Meet David Bradley, Republican member of the Texas State Board of Education from Beaumont.

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Charles Rangel

Taking Stock Of The Rangel Probe: What's He Accused Of?

Zachary Roth | September 7, 2009, 1:36PM

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY)

Last week, Republicans intensified their calls for the ouster of Rep. Charles Rangel from his job as chair of the House Ways and Means committee. The Harlem Democrat has been under fire thanks to a string of revelations about irregularities in his personal financial arrangements. But Nancy Pelosi is so far unmoved, with her aides telling Politico she'll wait for the results of a House ethics investigation before taking any action.

The probe has been underway for almost a year, and it's not clear when the results might be made public. So while we all wait, it's worth a quick refresher on what the ethics panel is looking at, and what it might all amount to.

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Jack Abramoff

Ring Prosecutors: Top Ashcroft Aide Helped Abramoff Client, Didn't Disclose Hoops Tix

Zachary Roth | September 7, 2009, 11:18AM

CEO of Ashcroft Group David Ayres

We told you on Friday that David Ayres, a close John Ashcroft ally, looks set to plead the fifth in the latest corruption trial of a Jack Abramoff underling. And over the weekend we got fresh detail on what looks like Ayres's cozy relationship with Team Abramoff.

In documents filed yesterday in the corruption trial of Abramoff aide Kevin Ring, and examined by TPMmuckraker, prosecutors asserted that Ayres -- who at the time was Ashcroft's chief of staff at the Justice Department -- helped Ring win federal money for a prison to be built on the reservation of the Choctaw Indians, an Abramoff client. Prosecutors also asserted that Ring then gave Ayres tickets to the 2002 NCAA basketball tournament in Washington D.C. And, they say, the following year, Ring gave Ayres's wife tickets to a pro hoops game after she had said that she wanted them as a birthday gift for her husband. Ayres didn't report any of these tickets on financial disclosure forms, say the Ring prosecutors.

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