Ashcroft Holding Ethically Questionable Pizza Luncheon
"A pizza luncheon to be hosted this Wednesday by former Attorney General turned consultant John Ashcroft for some of his old political appointees has raised eyebrows in the Justice Department's ethics office, U.S. News has learned. The ethics office, which provides Justice employees with guidance on a wide range of ethics questions, has not instructed invitees not to attend the lunch." (U.S. News & World Report)

Psychologist OK's Padilla For Trial
A prison psychologist determined on Monday that although accused terrorist operative Jose Padilla suffers from mild anxiety and personality disorders, he is mentally stable enough to stand trial. (The New York Times) Additionally, a federal judge determined yesterday that a terrorist manual claimed by the prosecution ot have been Padilla's could not be admitted as evidence. (The Los Angeles Times)

Libby Juror Heaved
"The jury considering whether I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby is guilty of perjury lost one of its members after nearly three days of deliberation yesterday, but the presiding judge ordered the panel to continue working to reach a decision. U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton dismissed the juror, an art curator in her 70s, after she disclosed to her peers that she had come in contact over the weekend with information about the case of Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff." (The Washington Post)

Former FDA Chief to Receive Sentencing Today
"A judge wants attorneys to explain why former FDA chief Lester Crawford shouldn't receive stiffer punishment than a $50,000 fine and probation for lying about stocks he owned in companies regulated by his agency. Crawford was to be sentenced Tuesday. His defense attorney and federal prosecutors worked out a deal that would spare jail time for the former head of the Food and Drug Administration." (Associated Press)

Pres. Candidate Hunter's PAC Paying for Campaign Ads
"Republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter, a California congressman, has used his political action committee to run New Hampshire television ads introducing himself to voters -- in what some specialists say could be a violation of campaign finance laws." (The Boston Globe)

Democrats Turning Against 527s
"Senate Democrats are considering placing curbs on soft-money 527 groups amid evidence that they are beginning to lose the political advantage these largely unregulated funds have given them over Republicans.This is a move Democrats had strenuously opposed during the last Congress, when they were believed to benefit from the lion’s share of 527 money, but now there is evidence that more of the money from these groups, named for a clause in the tax code, is flowing to the GOP." (The Hill)

Cell Phone License Cancelled in House
Following the review of a deal with Israeli cell phone company Mobile Access (former client of Jack Abramoff) brokered by convicted former Rep. Bob Ney, the House Aministration Committee has cancelled the licensing agreement. (Politico)

Critics Allege That Pelosi Hasn't Fulfilled Campaign Promises
Despite promising months ago to make the new Democratic majority part of "the most ethical congress in history," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has thus far failed to deliver on many of her campaign pledges. In addition to putting Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.), who had $90,000 in alleged bribe money in his freezer, on the Homeland Security Committee, critics point to Pelosi's failure to increase the Congressional work week and denial of Republican proposals as examples of her lack of commitment. (Politico)

Ethics Task Force to Keep Meetings Private
The House's bipartisan ethics task force that determines which ethics cases need to be examined by an outside panel to where has decided to keep its weekly meetings private. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA) defends the move, stating "it’s better to have discussions than have the typical hearings where you ask witnesses three ‘gotcha’ questions and it’s a public exercise rather than a open discussion aimed at finding solutions." (The Hill)

Ney Aide Enters Guilty Plea
"A former chief of staff to then-Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio) pleaded guilty yesterday to corruption charges stemming from accepting gifts, gambling chips and trips -- including an expense-paid junket to Scotland with his boss -- from former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a foreign businessman." (The Washington Post)