Landrieu Phone-Tampering Scandal

Charges Reduced Against O'Keefe In Landrieu Case

Justin Elliott | March 26, 2010, 3:36PM

James O'Keefe

Charges have been reduced against activist filmmaker James O'Keefe and the three other men charged in the alleged Landrieu phone tampering case, the Justice Department announced today.

The four men "were charged in a one-count bill of information with entering real property of the United States under false pretenses, a misdemeanor," the DOJ announced in a press release today. Read the bill of information here.

Read more »

Campaign Finance

In Wake of Citizens United, Another Campaign-Finance Reg. Bites The Dust

Zachary Roth | March 26, 2010, 2:43PM

There was bad news and good news -- which could turn into bad news -- for backers of efforts to reduce the role of money in politics today.

First, the bad news: In a decision that reflects the broad impact of the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia struck down limits on contributions to political groups that spend money to support or oppose candidates.

Read more »

Clarion Fund

Iran Film Planned By Group That Made Splash With Right-Wing DVD On Islam

Justin Elliott | March 26, 2010, 1:42PM

A screenshot of the Clarion Fund's Web site

Just in time for the campaign season, the right-wing Clarion Fund, which shipped out 28 million DVDs to swing state voters in 2008 warning of the threat of radical Islam, has announced it's working on a new film, this one on "the Iranian Nuclear threat."

In a little-noticed press release this week, the Clarion Fund, which was behind Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against The West, said the new film will "document the development of the Iranian nuclear program, the threats posed by such a program, and the West's inability to recognize the true nature of an extremist Islamic Revolutionary regime ..."

Read more »

Tea Parties

Feeling The Heat, Tea Partiers Denounce Violence

Zachary Roth | March 26, 2010, 1:12PM

Tea party in Hartford, Connecticut in 2009

Tea Partiers and others on the right are starting to distance themselves from the recent spate of violence and racism that has characterized the opposition to health-care reform.

In a letter to President Obama and Congress released yesterday, an alliance of Florida Tea Party groups called the Tea Party movement "a peaceful movement" and declared that they "stand in stark opposition to any person using derogatory characterizations, threats of violence, or disparaging terms toward members of Congress or the President."

Read more »

Jim Gibbons

NV Gov To AG: C'Mon, Get Us In On That Health-Care Lawsuit

Zachary Roth | March 26, 2010, 11:23AM

Gov. Jim Gibbons (R-NV)

We've told you about the 13 state attorneys general who have filed suit to get health-care reform declared unconstitutional. But spare a thought for another state official who's desperate to get in on the fun too -- but so far in vain.

That's Gov. Jim Gibbons of Nevada. On Wednesday, the GOP governor called on his state's attorney general, Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto, to sign the Silver State onto the lawsuit, citing a state law that gives the governor the power to direct that legal action be taken "to protect and secure the interest" of the state.

Read more »

New York

Reports: Paterson Drafted Statement For Woman In Alleged Domestic Violence Case

Justin Elliott | March 26, 2010, 11:00AM

Gov. David Paterson (D-NY)

It looks like New York Gov. David Paterson was more deeply involved than previously known in attempts to make a domestic violence case against a top aide go away.

The New York Times and the Post each have a story today reporting that he helped prepare a press statement for the woman who was allegedly assaulted.

Read more »

Bill McCollum

Florida AG's Lead Role On Lawsuit

Zachary Roth | March 26, 2010, 9:46AM

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum

Florida Attorney General Bob McCollum, in the midst of a run for governor, is eager to take credit for leading the effort to get health-care reform struck down by the courts.

McCollum and 12 of his fellow state AGs, all but one Republican, filed suit earlier this week in Federal Court in the northern district of Florida, arguing that the law is unconstitutional. (We assessed the lawsuit's slim chances of success here.) And now McCollum's office has explained to TPMmuckraker how he quarterbacked the effort.

Read more »

David Frum

Days After Lambasting GOP, Frum Leaves AEI

Zachary Roth | March 25, 2010, 6:54PM

David Frum

David Frum, the conservative pundit and former Bush White House speechwriter, has left his perch at the American Enterprise Institute -- with some observers wondering whether the move was triggered by his recent criticism of the GOP.

Today, Frum posted on his blog a note he had sent to AEI President Arthur Brooks:

Read more »

Blackwater

Despite Initial Denials, Young GOPers Headed To Blackwater Compound For Fundraiser

Justin Elliott | March 25, 2010, 5:27PM

RNC Chair Michale Steele and a Blackwater training session

Despite flat denials earlier this month, the RNC's Young Eagles will be holding an April fundraiser at the headquarters of Blackwater in Moyock, North Carolina, Politico is reporting.

The original report that the young Republican donors would gather at the HQ of Xe, the new name for the armed contractor company formerly known as Blackwater, came from a leaked RNC presentation. The event was listed for April 16.

Read more »

Stephen Green

Pajamas Media Editor: Let's Bring Back Tar And Feathering -- And Maybe More

Justin Elliott | March 25, 2010, 12:42PM

Stephen Green

In a blog post yesterday on the climate of threats surrounding health care reform, an editor and radio host employed by the Pajamas Media conservative blog outlet called for a return to the "fine tradition" of tar and feathering, and potentially even more extreme acts of violence.

In the post, titled "Put the Fear of Something Into Them," Pajamas' Denver Editor Stephen Green riffed on the recent threats and attacks on Democrats and concluded:

Read more »

David Rivkin

Behind The Lawsuit: Florida AG Turned To Beltway Fixture -- And Old Lobbying Pal -- For Health-Care Challenge

Zachary Roth | March 25, 2010, 11:42AM

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and attorney David Rivkin, Jr.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has so far served as the public face for the legal challenge to the constitutionality of health-care reform. But on the legal heavy-lifting, McCollum has had help from a top member of Washington's conservative legal establishment and former Bush 41 White House lawyer, who once teamed up with the AG as a lobbyist.

David Rivkin, a lawyer with white-shoe DC firm Baker Hostetler, told TPMmuckraker that McCollum personally asked him to get involved with the lawsuit, once it appeared that the reform bill would indeed finally pass. "McCollum approached me on behalf of himself and several other AGs," said Rivkin, who along with Lee Casey, another Baker Hostetler lawyer, is listed on the lawsuit as "of counsel."

Read more »

Health Care Reform

Angry Perriello: Boehner's Statement On Threats Was 'Outrageous' (VIDEO)

Justin Elliott | March 25, 2010, 9:58AM

Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA)

Following the incident in which someone cut a gas line at his brother's home -- whose address had been posted online by tea partiers -- Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) says he isn't satisfied with a statement from Minority Leader John Boehner on threats against Democrats.

Boehner's statement said in part, "But, as I've said, violence and threats are unacceptable. That's not the American way. We need to take that anger and channel it into positive change."

Asked about it on CNN this morning, Perriello replied:

Read more »

John Ensign

Ensign Again Won't Say If He's Been Subpoenaed -- Instead Slams 'Gotcha' Journalism

Zachary Roth | March 25, 2010, 9:31AM

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) again declined to say whether he's been subpoenaed by the grand jury that's probing his sex-and-lobbying scandal -- and instead took a shot at "gotcha" journalism.

Asked by Politico whether he had been subpoenaed, Ensign instead went on a tirade against the media. "Seeking of the truth should be not only part of the Justice Department and part of our judicial system, but also should be ... a goal of reporters today," said the embattled lawmaker. "Unfortunately, too much of our press is ... (1) biased or (2) just about 'gotcha.'"

Read more »

Health Care Reform

MAP: A Guide To Recent Vandal Attacks On Democrats (UPDATED)

Justin Elliott | March 24, 2010, 5:19PM

Smashed windows. Threats of violence. A slashed gas line. Reports of vandalism and threats against Democrats have been stacking up over the past few days.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer today estimated that 10 members had been threatened over the health care vote.

So just how bad is it out there?

Read more »

Ken Cuccinelli

VA Dems To AG: How Much Is Anti-HCR Lawsuit Costing Taxpayers?

Zachary Roth | March 24, 2010, 2:07PM

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli

The Democratic push-back against the GOP-led bid to challenge the constitutionality of health-care reform is gaining steam.

Virginia Democrats announced today that they've filed a Freedom of Information Act request with Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, seeking information on the amount of taxpayer money being spent on the lawsuit Cuccinelli filed yesterday, reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Read more »

Tea Parties

Is There A Tea Party Movement?

Zachary Roth | March 24, 2010, 12:59PM

Tea party in Washington, D.C.

At first it seems absurd even to ask the question in the title. After all, the emergence of the Tea Partiers has been among the hottest political stories of the past year, and the group just came within inches of stymieing President Obama's major agenda item.

But lately, it's begun to appear that the Tea Partiers -- at least as defined by the media -- aren't so much a new force of previously apolitical regular folks, stirred from their apathy by an expansion of government and Rick Santelli's famous rant. Rather, they're essentially conservative Republican base voters, who were demoralized by the failures of the Bush years and have been re-energized by Democratic control of Washington. And they're part of a strain of the conservative movement that has long been driven by cultural resentment and racial paranoia.

Read more »

Tom Perriello

FBI Investigating Cut Gas Line At Home Of Dem Rep's Brother

Justin Elliott | March 24, 2010, 12:45PM

Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA)

After a tea party organizer published the address of the brother of Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) in a blog post urging anti-health reform activists to "drop by," someone cut a propane gas line at the house, Politico is reporting.

Now the FBI is investigating what happened at the home near Charlottesville, according to Politico.

Read more »

Dan Senor

Senor Not Running After All

Zachary Roth | March 24, 2010, 12:30PM

Dan Senor, former chief spokesperson for the Coalition Provisional Authority

Dan Senor, the Bush administration's top spokesman in Iraq, won't run for the U.S. Senate from New York after all.

Here's his statement:

Read more »

Guantanamo

Conservatives Pounce On Judge's Order To Free Gitmo Detainee

Justin Elliott | March 24, 2010, 11:12AM

Detainees at Guantanamo Bay

In recent days, hawkish conservatives have seized on the case of a Guantanamo detainee who was ordered freed by a federal judge this week after a years-long saga in which the detainee was reportedly tortured by American interrogators.

U.S. District Court Judge James Robertson on Monday ordered the release of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who was once dubbed the "highest value detainee" by a top Pentagon official.

Read more »

Health Care Reform

Taitz Challenges Constitutionality Of Health Reform: It Blocks My Right To Practice Dentistry

Justin Elliott | March 24, 2010, 8:57AM

Orly Taitz

Joining a distinguished group of state attorneys general in challenging the constitutionality of the health reform legislation, now comes Orly Taitz, who in a new federal court filing argues that the bill violates her "right" to practice dentistry.

Along with her lawyerly pursuits, Taitz operates a dental office in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

Read more »

Health Care

Justice Department: 'We Will Prevail' In Health-Care Reform Lawsuit

Zachary Roth | March 23, 2010, 6:04PM

From left, Attorneys General Bill McCollum (FL), Ken Cuccinelli (VA) and Henry McMaster (SC)

The Justice Department is already signaling its willingness to "vigorously defend" the health-care reform law that has been challenged as unconstitutional by a group of attorneys general.

In a statement to Main Justice, a DOJ spokesman said:

Read more »

Health Care Reform

Vandals Attack Dem Offices Nationwide

Justin Elliott | March 23, 2010, 1:00PM

Vandals smashed doors and windows at five Democratic offices around the country in the days surrounding the landmark House health care vote Sunday night, and a right-wing blogger in Alabama is taking credit for starting a so-called "window war."

Here are the reports we've seen from around the country on the mini-epidemic of brick-throwing:

Read more »

Health Care

Could SCOTUS Be The Death Panel For Health-Care Reform?

Zachary Roth | March 23, 2010, 12:36PM

From left, Attorneys General Bill McCollum (FL), Ken Cuccinelli (VA) and Henry McMaster (SC)

Now that President Obama has signed health-care reform into law, opponents of the bill are pinning their hopes of stopping it on a last-ditch legal strategy. A group of 13 state attorneys general has filed suit (pdf), arguing that the law is unconstitutional.

The bid seems far-fetched at first. But the Roberts Court has recently shown a willingness to strike down landmark legislation -- charges of judicial activism be damned. So, given the stakes, it's worth asking: Could health-care reform have made it through the congressional gauntlet, only to end up dying in the courts?

(Late Update: The Justice Department is signaling that it's already gearing up for a fight. "We will vigorously defend the constitutionality of the health care reform statute," a DOJ spokesman says.)

Read more »

Guantanamo

ACLU Denies Lawbreaking In Case Of Photographed CIA Officers

Justin Elliott | March 23, 2010, 11:00AM

Detainees at Guantanamo and U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald

In a case that has all the ingredients to explode into a national controversy, Attorney General Eric Holder has appointed star prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald to investigate whether laws were broken after "paparazzi style" photographs of CIA officers were found in the cell of a Guantanamo inmate accused of financing the 9/11 attacks, Newsweek is reporting.

In an interview with TPMmuckraker, the top official for the ACLU project that provided assistance for the defense of the detainee in question -- and hired private investigators to take the photos of CIA officers thought to be involved in torture -- said that no laws had been broken.

Read more »

Blackwater

AP: Ex-Blackwater President Faces Possible Indictment Over AK-47s

Justin Elliott | March 23, 2010, 9:45AM

private contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The latest legal headache for the company formerly known as Blackwater doesn't center on dead civilians in Afghanistan or alleged bribes in Iraq, but instead on a couple dozen automatic weapons the company may have illegally held at its Moyock, North Carolina, headquarters.

The AP is reporting that "senior Justice Department officials" are looking at a draft indictment against former Blackwater president Gary Jackson and two other ex-officials following a 2008 raid in which the Feds seized 17 AK-47s from the company's headquarters.

Read more »

ACORN

ACORN Folds As National Organization

Zachary Roth | March 22, 2010, 4:08PM

ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis

Via Politico's Ben Smith:

ACORN's national organization is folding in the wake of the conservative-led attacks against it, most prominently James O'Keefe's undercover videos.

Read more »

AIPAC

Code Pink: We're Behind Hoax AIPAC Demand For Settlement Freeze

Justin Elliott | March 22, 2010, 2:45PM

Code Pink's Medea Benjamin

Medea Benjamin of Code Pink tells TPMmuckraker that the left-wing activist group orchestrated the bogus AIPAC press release calling for a settlement freeze that got picked up by several major news organizations today.

Benjamin says she and a colleague stood outside the AIPAC conference hall today dressed in suits and handed out copies of the statement to confused attendees.

Read more »

Pay-Day Lenders

In The Loop: The Pay-Day Lenders' Ties To Powerful Beltway Influence-Peddlers

Zachary Roth | March 22, 2010, 10:32AM

Rick Berman, Mike Flynn and Dick Armey

We told you last week about the sophisticated Washington lobbying and PR operation that has helped the $42 billion-a-year pay-day lending industry water down provisions in the financial reform bill currently before Congress. But it looks like the industry's ties to a host of heavy-hitting, and sometimes controversial, Beltway players are even more extensive.

Those players, it appears, include a prominent and well-regarded DC consulting firm founded by top former Clinton administration staffers, a key editor at the Andrew-Breitbart-created website that hosted James O'Keefe's ACORN "exposes," Dick Armey's FreedomWorks, and a notorious corporate lobbyist known as "Dr. Evil." Taken together, the pay-day lenders' connections in the capital make clear that the industry has quietly -- and in a remarkably short time -- enmeshed itself into a network of Washington influence-peddlers skilled at putting a favorable sheen on a host of corporate causes.

Read more »

AIPAC

AIPAC, Press Get Punk'd By Fake Call For Settlement Freeze

Justin Elliott | March 22, 2010, 9:36AM

A scene from the 2010 AIPAC conference

The top spokesman for AIPAC says someone created a hoax version of his email address and blasted out a statement calling on Israel to stop building new settlements, which was picked up by NPR, Politico's Laura Rozen reports.

Similarly, ABC's Jake Tapper tweeted the bogus news this morning (see image below) before deleting the item and tweeting "Whoa--- that was a hoax. AIPAC is NOT calling for a settlement freeze- someone staged a very elaborate fake email/press release. V odd."

Read more »

Marc Thiessen

New Yorker Fact-Checks Ex-Bush Speechwriter's Torture Claims

Justin Elliott | March 22, 2010, 8:31AM

Marc Thiessen

The public profile of Marc Thiessen, former chief speechwriter for Donald Rumsfeld and George W. Bush and current terrorism pundit, soared this year following the publication of his book Courting Disaster: How the CIA Kept America Safe and How Barack Obama Is Inviting the Next Attack, which was blurbed by such conservative luminaries as Dick Cheney.

But now the New Yorker's Jane Mayer has published a scathing review of the book that challenges not only Thiessen's defense of "brutal interrogations" but also some of his basic factual claims.

Read more »