Tim Mahoney

Mahoney Admits At Least Two Affairs

Kate Klonick | October 17, 2008, 4:40PM

Rep. Tim Mahoney has admitted to having "at least two" affairs, but maintains that he broke no laws, the AP reports.

"I can understand why people would feel that way and for those people, all I can say is, 'I'm sorry I let you down,'" Mahoney told the Associated Press in his first set of interviews since ABCNews.com reported Monday that he had a sexual relationship with an ex-staffer, Patricia Allen, who he agreed to pay $121,000 to in an out of court settlement.

Mahoney also admitted to a second affair, initially reported Wednesday by the AP, with a county official in his district. The affair reportedly was carried on, while he was lobbying the federal government for FEMA funds for the official's county.

So is this his full confession? Mahoney wouldn't say, but confessed to "multiple affairs."

"You're asking me over a lifetime? I'm just saying I've been unfaithful and I'm sorry for that," he said.

And what about his infamous predecessor, Mark Foley?

"With respect to the former congressman, I think that his situation is different from my situation," Mahoney said. "I don't want anyone to misinterpret that as me saying somehow I'm saying I'm more proud. I'm not saying that at all."

Alaska

Blogging Sen. Stevens Testimony

Kate Klonick | October 17, 2008, 12:05PM

Sen. Ted Stevens took the stand yesterday, along with his wife Catherine, to testify in his trial on seven counts of false statements.

He continues that testimony today, so we'll be bringing you context on relevant facts, quotes and happenings from what looks like it will be the final day of this historic trial of a sitting senator.

Morning testimony. . .12:01: One might call Uncle Ted a "traditionalist" after reading this quote on the power dynamic in his household.

From RollCall:

Ted Stevens testified that when Catherine agreed to take charge of the project, "I was happy about that" because she is generally much more concerned than he is about the maintenance and decoration of their homes.

"What goes on in the house is Catherine's business; what goes on outside is my business," he said.

Politico says Stevens read the jury an e-mail he sent to the man who produced architectural drawings for the renovation project in August 2000.

"Now I want you to give us a bill for your work," Stevens wrote to John Hess -- a VECO employee and one of the first witnesses for the defense, but never received a bill. "Under our Senate rules, I must pay you for what you have done," he added.

Direct continues . . .12:44 pm : Well the Stevens' defense has made it pretty clear -- their primary defense is throwing Mrs. Stevens under the bus:

"Who had the check book?" Sullivan asked his client.

"Catherine," Stevens said.

"Who got the bills?"

"Catherine," Stevens responded.

"Catherine maintained the checkbook?"

"She did," Stevens said. "She got all the bills and paid all the bills."

As you can see from the focus of the defense questions, they're looking to defend the senator on two fronts: 1) that he tried to pay his bills, even asking for them from the architect while citing Senate rules; and 2) that he didn't even know what was going on in the house anyway! That was women's work!

No Free Lunch Edition . . . 1:13 pm: This just in from the AP, Stevens wouldn't even let his buddies pick up the tab on lunch! Let alone hundreds of thousands in home renovations.

"I pay my bills wherever I am," Stevens said. "I don't let people buy my lunch or buy my dinner. Wherever I am, I pay my bills."

Sadly, Stevens also turned on the testimony of former VECO CEO Bill Allen -- who was one of his best friends until he decided to testify against Ted.

Stevens blames Allen, his one-time friend and drinking buddy, for adding freebies to the project without telling him. Stevens sat stonefaced Friday as he accused Allen of lying on the witness stand. Allen testified that Stevens knew he wasn't getting billed for everything and just wanted invoices to protect himself.

"That's just an absolute lie," Stevens said. "I heard it. It's an absolute lie."

Flashback to Catherine's testimony Edition . . .1:43pm: TPM Reader ML points out an interesting moment in Catherine's testimony yesterday:

Morris also questioned Mrs. Stevens about her husband's Senate staff walking their dogs, paying their credit card bills, cutting their grass and doing other personal work for her family.

"Sometimes," said Mrs. Stevens, who added that if they did, the staffers were paid. [emphasis ours.]

Hmmm . . . who does that remind you of?

Cross examination is coming Edition. . . 3:13pm: Roll Call is reporting that direct questioning will be wrapping up this afternoon and cross examination will probably start before they recess for the weekend. Disappointing that this won't be wrapped up by the end of the day.

Crocodile Tears Edition. . . 5:13pm : Apparently, even though Sen. Stevens and his attorneys haven't hesitated to sacrifice Catherine Stevens to the DOJ wolves, the seven-term senator still gets misty-eyed over her, Roll Call reports.

"I was happy that she was going to get a chance to be home" and to spend time with their daughter, Stevens said, referring to his wife's decision to leave work and its impact on their household finances. Fighting back tears, Stevens said that his wife had been traveling a great deal for her job with a foundation, and "she had worked awful hard. ... She deserved the rest."

Politico has some great color on the senators' cross examination, in which the prosecutor sharply questions Stevens' ignorance and passivity when it came to the home renovations.

"You were a lion of the Senate but you didn't know how to prevent another man from putting items in your house?" Morris asked.

"You're making a lot of assumptions that are unwarranted. There are no gifts there, ma'am," Stevens said.

Stevens is known for his temper and has even embraced that reputation, wearing Incredible Hulk ties on the Senate floor when he knows he has a tough debate ahead. He's not wearing any Hulk garb today.

Stevens, a former U.S. attorney before he served 35+ years in the Senate, got a little testy as questioning continued, deigning to offer his expertise.

"I think you better rephrase your question," he told Morris as she continued her questioning. "That question is tautological."

Things broke up around 4:45 pm. We'll be back on Monday bringing you the best in reporting on the final days of the Stevens' trial.

Alaska

Sen. Ted Stevens Takes Stand Briefly Today

Kate Klonick | October 16, 2008, 4:41PM

It's about time.

From the AP:

Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska has taken the stand in his own defense at his corruption trial in the nation's capital.

The Republican icon is the last defense witness. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan told him late Thursday he didn't have to testify. But Stevens replied, "It's a privilege and a duty."

Late update: In his time on the stand -- of which there was only 20 minutes before the court recessed for the day -- Stevens answered questions from his attorney on the charges he faces and spoke of his life and career in Alaska.

From the Anchorage Daily News:

"Senator, when you signed those forms, did you believe they were accurate and truthful?" asked his lawyer, Brendan Sullivan.

"Yes sir," Stevens said.

"Did you ever intentionally file false disclosure forms?" his lawyer asked.

"No, I did not," Stevens said.

"Did you ever engage in any scheme to conceal anything from the Senate?" Sullivan asked.

"No sir," Stevens said.

Tim Mahoney

Fed. Official: FBI Investigating Mahoney for Misused Funds

Kate Klonick | October 16, 2008, 2:37PM

A senior federal official confirmed that the FBI is investigating Rep. Tim Mahoney on the possible misuse of federal funds, the AP reports.

Yesterday, Mahoney's attorney provided documentation to the AP showing that the congressman had paid $121,000 from his personal account in a settlement with his former staffer and alleged ex-mistress, Patricia Allen, dispelling questions over whether federal or campaign funds were used to pay-off Allen.

But investigators are looking into whether funds were misused during Allen's time as a staffer in Mahoney's congressional office and questioning whether Allen was put on the federal payroll in order to keep her from revealing the alleged affair.

FBI investigators are looking into whether Mahoney "benefited sexually in return for spending or securing federal money," after it was revealed yesterday that Mahoney had a possible second affair with a county official from Mahoney's district. Mahoney lobbied for and won $3.4 million in FEMA aid for the official's county, a favor he didn't provide to the other counties in his district -- while he was allegedly carrying on an affair with her.

Lurita Doan

Lurita Loses It Over Waxman's Report

Kate Klonick | October 16, 2008, 1:43PM

Lurita Doan, the former administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), is a favorite of TPMmuckraker -- not just because she's sufficiently steeped in controversy, but because she makes for some great TPMtv.

Well today, Lurita decided to make us some great PDFs.

The House Oversight Report released yesterday found that the White House had enlisted government agencies -- like the GSA, led by Doan at the time -- to assist Republicans running for re-election. You might remember Doan as the agency head who had the good sense to ask Karl Rove's aide Scott Jennings, "how 'we' could help 'our candidates' in the next election" in front of a roomful of assembled officials.

Doan wrote a angry two-page response to Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, defending herself. For the world's viewing pleasure, she sent a copy of that letter to FedBlog, who wasted no time in posting it.

"Most Americans have grown familiar with your lack of candor, misleading statements, and bitter partisan machinations, and certainly, your report serves as yet another example of the same ol' same ol' from Henry Waxman," Doan begins her letter.

"You, quite shamefully, decided to ignore it," Doan continues, after laying out her version of events. "You didn't want the truth; you wanted a highly charged misinterpretation so that you could weave your idea of political gold."

Doan also criticizes the investigation of Office of Special Counsel Director Scott Bloch, who she claims "directed federal employees, on government time to pen anonymous blogs to further disparage my character and distort the facts for your direct benefit."

"Are you aware," she continues, "one of Mr. Bloch's federal bloggers penned especially negative attacks and disguised himself 'a combat veteran'. [sic] How utterly craven."

But really, our favorite part is the finale where she begs for a chance to go in front of the Committee again.

I now understand you and your ubiquitous hypocrisy. I know how your witch hunts and kangaroo courts work. So please, invite me to testify. I can't wait.

We can only hope, Lurita.

Read Doan's letter to Waxman, in all its glory, here.

CIA

Leahy: We've Been "Kept in the Dark"

Kate Klonick | October 16, 2008, 12:15PM

Sen. Patrick Leahy wrote to White House Counsel today, demanding to know why he and his colleague Sen. Jay Rockefeller were "kept in the dark" on the existence of memos from the White House endorsing CIA interrogation practices.

"You and I have communicated several times about the Judiciary Committee's oversight and legislative interest in the Government's use of torture, such as waterboarding, and other harsh interrogation practices," the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee wrote in a letter to Fred Fielding.

"I now read in The Washington Post that the White House issued two previously undisclosed memoranda to the CIA in 2003 and 2004. It is disturbing to be reminded, at this late date, of the stonewalling, misdirection and lack of accountability that has characterized this administration from its first days in office."

If Leahy seems mad, it might be because waking up and finding out that documents you've been trying to get full disclosure on for five years are on the front page of a national newspaper, isn't the best way to start your day.

Full text of letter after the jump.

Read more »

Ted Stevens

Stevens Likely to Testify Tomorrow

Kate Klonick | October 15, 2008, 7:05PM

We know that we've strung you along telling you that Sen. Ted Stevens was testifying on Tuesday. . . and then today, so maybe we should hedge our words a bit when we tell you that Ted Stevens will likely testify tomorrow.

As soon as the owner of the Double Musky Inn is finished testifying, Catherine Stevens, Ted's wife, will take the stand. And then it's time for Ted, the final witness for the defense.

Given Stevens past tendencies to inaccurately wax poetic, we're pretty excited.

Tim Mahoney

Mahoney Paid Off Staffer with Own Funds

Kate Klonick | October 15, 2008, 5:01PM

The lawyer for Rep. Tim Mahoney provided documentation to the Associated Press today showing that Mahoney used personal funds to pay $121,000 to Patricia Allen, a former staffer and alleged ex-mistress. The wire transfer receipts and canceled checks provided to the AP answer the question of whether or not the Congressman had ever followed through on the private settlement reported earlier this week.

The documents also answer one of the other questions swirling around Mahoney's scandal -- whether the payment had involved campaign funds. While Mahoney has issued statements in the few days since this scandal erupted, he had failed to deny or directly address questions about the affair or the settlement.

Before running for Congress, Mahoney was a successful venture capitalist with a net worth listed on financial disclosure forms between $3.2 and $12.7 million.

According to Mahoney's attorney, $141,903 was the total ticket price for Allen's silence. The settlement included a confidentiality agreement that prohibits either party from discussing the details and paid $61,903 to Allen; $60,000 to her attorney; and $20,000 to Mahoney's own attorney.

John Boehner

Boehner: What's Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander

Kate Klonick | October 15, 2008, 4:36PM

Back when the Mark Foley page scandal threw Republican leadership into the spotlight, Rep. John Boehner voluntarily testified.

And now that Foley's successor, Tim Mahoney, has found himself in a sordid scandal of his very own, Boehner is eager to see the same standards of forthrightness applied by his Democratic compatriots.

"In 2006, House Republican leaders voluntarily testified under oath in the matter of disgraced former Congressman Mark Foley," Boehner said in a statement released by his office on Wednesday. "Will House Democratic leaders, including Speaker Pelosi (D-Calif.), Congressman Emanuel (D-Ill.), and Congressman Van Hollen (D-Md.), agree to do the same?"

Van Hollen and Emanuel have both admitted to speaking with Mahoney after hearing rumors he was carrying on an affair with a staffer. Pelosi called on Monday night for a House Ethics Committee investigation into the allegations about Mahoney.

Torture

Sen. Rockefeller Reacts to News Report on White House Torture Memos

Kate Klonick | October 15, 2008, 1:35PM

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, spoke out in reaction to the news this morning that the White House endorsed controversial CIA interrogation techniques in memos requested by then CIA director, George Tenet.

"The Senate Intelligence Committee is in the midst of an investigation of the CIA's interrogation program, including the Department of Justice's determination that the use of waterboarding on prisoners is lawful," Rockefeller said in a statement.

"If White House documents exist that set the policy for the use of coercive techniques such as waterboarding, those documents have been kept from the Committee. That is unacceptable, and represents the latest example of the Bush Administration withholding critical information from Congress and the American people in an attempt to limit our oversight of sensitive intelligence collection activities."

House Oversight

House Oversight Finds WH Sought Gov't Help for GOP Candidates

Kate Klonick | October 15, 2008, 11:57AM

After lots of fun testimony, the House Oversight has released a draft report finding that the White House "enlisted agency heads across government in a coordinated effort to elect Republican candidates to Congress," directing them ""to make hundreds of trips -- most at taxpayer expense -- for the purpose of increasing the electability of Republicans" in the 2006 elections.

If you'll remember, this whole ordeal involved infamous Karl Rove aide Scott Jennings and Lurita "Private Sass" Doan, former head of the General Services Administration.

After a tactful presentation by Jennings, Doan had the good sense to ask the assembled officials "how 'we' could help 'our candidates' in the next election."

CIA

White House Endorsed Torture in Memos to CIA

Kate Klonick | October 15, 2008, 10:51AM

Two memos sent by the White House authorizing the use of torture in CIA interrogations firmly tie the Bush administration to the controversial techniques used on detainees and investigated by the Justice Department, the Washington Post reports.

The White House's written approval of the CIA interrogation methods were provided at the request of then CIA Director George Tenet, who was seeking "top cover," should the administration try to distance itself from the decisions later.

One memo, provided in 2003 approved the methods later used in prisons like Abu Ghraib. When the scandal over that prison erupted, Tenet requested a second letter from the White House which was provided in July 2004.

The memos are the latest in recent admissions from the Bush administration on their role in authorizing and shaping CIA interrogation techniques -- charges they denied for years. In late September, Condoleezza Rice admitted White House officials discussed using torture against detainees.

From the Washington Post:

Tenet first pressed the White House for written approval in June 2003, during a meeting with members of the National Security Council, including Rice, the officials said. Days later, he got what he wanted: a brief memo conveying the administration's approval for the CIA's interrogation methods, the officials said.

Administration officials confirmed the existence of the memos, but neither they nor former intelligence officers would describe their contents in detail because they remain classified. The sources all spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not cleared to discuss the events.

The second request from Tenet, in June 2004, reflected growing worries among agency officials who had just witnessed the public outcry over the Abu Ghraib scandal. Officials who held senior posts at the time also spoke of deteriorating relations between the CIA and the White House over the war in Iraq -- a rift that prompted some to believe that the agency needed even more explicit proof of the administration's support.

Tim Mahoney

AP: Mahoney Also Had Affair with County Official While Lobbying FEMA for Aid

Kate Klonick | October 15, 2008, 10:19AM

Rep. Tim Mahoney is not having a good week.

The AP is reporting that Mahoney was having an affair with another woman, a local county official, while simultaneously lobbying the federal government for FEMA aid for the county.

From the AP:

On Tuesday night, a person close to the Mahoney campaign told the AP that Mahoney also was having a relationship with a high-ranking official in Martin County in his Florida district around the same time of the purported affair with Allen.

. . .The person said Mahoney was having the relationship with the official in 2007 while he also was lobbying the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a $3.4 million reimbursement for Martin County for damage caused by hurricanes in 2004. FEMA approved the money late last year.

Mahoney's congressional staff declined to comment on this alleged tryst, but noted Mahoney lobbies for FEMA funding throughout his district, and that Martin County has received $43 million from FEMA since 2004. Mahoney didn't take office until 2006.

Tim Mahoney

ABCNews: FBI Is Investigating Mahoney

Kate Klonick | October 14, 2008, 9:23PM

The FBI has begun preliminary investigations into allegations that Rep. Tom Mahoney paid $121,000 in "hush money" to his former mistress and staffer, ABCNews.com reports. What charges might result from such an investigation are unclear.

This sure makes a House Ethics Committee Investigation look like a tea party.

From ABCNews.com:

FBI agents have reportedly contacted members of Mahoney's staff and Tuesday sought legal files surrounding the secret settlement, according to current and former Mahoney Congressional and campaign staff workers.

A spokesperson for the FBI said she had been instructed to say "no comment" to press inquiries.

It would be unusual but not unprecedented for the FBI to open an investigation into a member of Congress three weeks before the election.

Tim Mahoney

Alleged Mahoney Mistress Employed By Campaign, Congress, Campaign Again

Kate Klonick | October 14, 2008, 7:19PM

Little is known about the woman at the center of the scandal currently embroiling Rep. Tim Mahoney. Patricia Allen, who was named by ABCNews.com as Mahoney's former mistress, is also a former campaign and congressional staffer with Mahoney's offices in Florida. According to FEC filings and documents examined by TPMmuckraker, Allen was on Mahoney's campaign and congressional books starting in late 2006 until Feburary of this year, making over $40,000.

Allen first appears on Mahoney's FEC filings for expense reimbursements filed on October 25, 2006, almost two weeks before Mahoney narrowly won the seat of former Rep. Mark Foley (R) -- who had resigned due to his own sex scandal, involving male teenage House pages.

Allen's name appears again for two payments of $750 on December 15 and 18, 2006 for "Consulting Research Services." Combined with her expenses, Allen's payments from the Mahoney campaign in 2006 totaled $1,883.40.

In January 2007 Allen was hired by Mahoney's home office in Florida as a "Constituent Liason," making her an official Congressional staffer. She remained in that position for roughly five months, ending on June 2 of the same year and paying her $12,500 in taxpayer dollars.

Less than two weeks later, Allen was hired again by Mahoney -- this time back at his campaign. Allen appears on the campaign payroll on June 15, again performing "Consulting Research Services."

On January 20 of this year, Mahoney fired Allen in a heated phone call. Roughly two weeks later, Allen, who is often billed by her nickname "Trish," left the campaign. She appears on the payroll until February 2, with a request for mileage reimbursement filed on February 4. Her total in pay and reimbursement for her second stint at the congressman's campaign was $26,230 dollars.

Henry Waxman

House Panel: White House Claims of Exec. Privilege "Unprecedented"

Kate Klonick | October 14, 2008, 3:38PM

Oversight Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) came together today to criticize the White House for their use of executive privilege in the Valerie Plame leak scandal.

The two lawmakers called Bush's refusal to disclose the report of the FBI interview with Vice President Cheney "legally unprecedented" and "inappropriate." The committee seeks the document in order to establish the White House's role in the leak of Plame's name to the media.

From The Hill:

"The president's assertion of executive privilege over this document was legally unprecedented and an inappropriate use of executive privilege" Waxman, the panel's chair, and Davis, the ranking Republican, said in a joint report.

Although both lawmakers agree that the president's action was "inappropriate," they disagree over whether Bush had the right to invoke executive privilege. Waxman rejects the validity of the assertion while Davis supports the privilege.

Waxman has been attempting to get access to the document since December 2007, and the committee issued a subpoena for it on June 24th 2008.

The Justice Department declared it would "not provide or make available any reports of interviews with the president or the vice president from the leak investigation" in response to the subpoena.

Tim Mahoney

House Dem. Leader Spoke to Mahoney About Affair As Recently as Last Month

Kate Klonick | October 14, 2008, 12:15PM

House Democratic leader Chis van Hollen knew of Rep. Tim Mahoney's affair, and spoke with him about it as recently as last month, ABCNews.com reports.

Van Hollen, who is also chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, spoke through a press aide from the committee.

"After a rumor recently surfaced on a blog about Mr. Mahoney's affair, the Chairman spoke briefly once with Mr. Mahoney about his responsibility as an elected official to act appropriately and urged him to come clean with his constituents if there was any truth to the rumor," DCCC spokesoman Jennifer Crider said.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel, whose comment was included in the ABCNews.com article, stated through a spokesperson that he had confronted Mahoney about the affair in early 2007.

Tim Mahoney

Mahoney Apologizes for Embarrassing Family in Presser This Morning

Kate Klonick | October 14, 2008, 10:37AM

Rep. Tim Mahoney held a press conference this morning, apologizing for the embarassment his actions have caused his family and denying he violated his oath of office or any laws.

"I would have come forward earlier but making sure my family is ok is far more important than any political career," Mahoney said, accompanied by his wife. "I have not violated my oath of office, nor have I violated any laws, and I consider this to be a private matter."

Mahoney also re-emphasized his request for a House Ethics Committee investigation and his belief that he will be cleared of any wrongdoing.

"I think the people of my District know that I am a fighter," he said. "I am not going to allow this story coming out 20 days before an election to change my resolve to serve the people of the 16th Congressional District."

Full text of press release after the jump.

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Ted Stevens

Ted Stevens to Take Stand Today in Own Trial?

Kate Klonick | October 14, 2008, 9:48AM

In a filing today with the U.S. District Court, Sen. Ted Stevens' defense team listed four witnesses that it may call today. Among them, Orrin Hatch, Martha Stewart and the seven term senator himself.

Senator Stevens hereby gives notice of the witnesses he intends to call on the fourth day of his case-in-chief, and the exhibits that he may seek to introduce during testimony.
1. Orrin Hatch
    Exhibits: None
2. Donna DeVarona
    Exhibits: None
3. Martha A. Stewart
    Exhibits: None
4. Theodore F. Stevens

It's a good thing.

Late update: It looks like we can expect the 84 year-old senator to take the stand tomorrow. According to Reuters, Stevens is scheduled to testify Wednesday. Today in court, he told the judge he was aware that he's not required to testify in his own defense.

Tim Mahoney

Pelosi Calls for Ethics Probe of Mahoney

Kate Klonick | October 14, 2008, 9:11AM

Mere hours after ABCNews.com reported that Rep. Tim Mahoney had agreed to pay $121,000 to a former mistress and Congressional staffer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for an ethics investigation into the allegations.

"I just learned today about the serious allegations concerning Congressman Tim Mahoney," Pelosi said in a statement released last night. "These charges must be immediately and thoroughly investigated by the House Ethics Committee."

Mahoney, a Democrat who won the seat of disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley, called for an ethics investigation of himself last night.

Tim Mahoney

Mahoney Media Consultants Jump Ship Over "Secret Legal Settlement"

Kate Klonick | October 13, 2008, 7:05PM

The media consultant team working with Rep. Tim Mahoney on his re-election bid, has severed its relationship with the junior congressman, after allegations surfaced this morning that he agreed to pay $121,000 to a former Congressional staffer and mistress after she threatened to sue him.

In a strongly-worded press statement released this evening, Fletcher Rowley Chao Riddle Inc. (FRCR) CEO Bill Fletcher terminated his firms relationship with Mahoney's campaign.

"As of today, FRCR, Inc. has resigned from Tim Mahoney's campaign and permanently ended our relationship with him," the statement reads. "According to ABC News, Tim Mahoney apparently included our company in a secret legal settlement without the knowledge of our firm. . . If these allegations are true, Tim Mahoney's actions are unacceptable and not in line with FRCR's business ethics."

The "secret legal settlement" Fletcher refers to, is the promise of a new job for Mahoney's former congressional staffer: a 2-year position at FRCR. Fletcher denied to ABCNews and in the statement today ever agreeing to such a deal.

Shortly after ABCNews.com's article, Mahoney issued a statement calling for an ethics investigation of the matter.

Tim Mahoney

Mahoney Asks For Ethics Investigation into Allegations Over Former Mistress

Kate Klonick | October 13, 2008, 5:45PM

Just hours after ABCNews.com reported that he had agree to pay $121,000 to a former staffer and mistress, Rep. Tim Mahoney issued a statement asking the House Ethics Committee to conduct an investigation, The Hill reports.

The Democrat who won the infamous Mark Foley's seat in Florida, didn't exactly deny the charges.

"I am confident that when the facts are presented that I will be vindicated," Mahoney said in a statement released this afternoon.

"I was notified this afternoon about a story that ran on ABC News' website reporting allegations about a former employee," Mahoney stated. "While these allegations are based on hearsay, I believe that my constituents need a full accounting. As such, I have requested the House Ethics Committee review these allegations."

Voting

Indiana and Ohio Spar Locally with ACORN

Kate Klonick | October 13, 2008, 4:02PM

As the Republican furor over ACORN and voter fraud continues to heat up nationally, there are two local developments in Democratic counties in swing states that are worth noting.

In Lake County, Indiana, where the GOP has already tried to prevent the opening of early voting sites in minority areas, the secretary of state has now asked the state attorney general and federal prosecutors to investigate ACORN for voter fraud.

Secretary of State Todd Rokita wrote a letter to fellow Republican, AG Steve Carter on Friday, stating that he had received "secured credible evidence" of voter fraud perpetuated by ACORN, the AP reports.

"There looks to be some felonious actions taken here," Rokita said to reporters. "I think the message to the voters and taxpayers of this state is that we're watching, and we're not going to tolerate the kind of behavior in the state."

ACORN responded on Friday saying that they themselves had "identified approximately 2,100 cards in Lake County that we believe were problematic."

"We are the victim here because we have identified the problem, and now certain interests are turning that information against us," Brian Kettenring, a spokesman for ACORN said.

And Lake County isn't the only Democratic stronghold in a swing state to be targeted with voter fraud accusations. The bipartisan Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, a county which contains Cleveland, held hearings today and voted unanimously to ask the county prosecutor to investigate multiple registrations of individuals registered by ACORN, the Columbus Dispatch reports.

Four people were subpoenaed in front of the board this morning, testifying that they had been asked to register multiple times by ACORN solicitors.

Katy Gall, the ACORN director for Ohio, said that they had cooperated with the investigation and would terminate the employment of anyone found soliciting multiple registrations.

No charges have been filed against ACORN in either state and in Indiana, the attorney general has yet to respond to Rokita's request Friday for an investigation.

Tim Mahoney

Foley Successor Embroiled In Own Allegations of Misconduct

Kate Klonick | October 13, 2008, 12:00PM

Is the West Palm Beach congressional seat prone to sex scandals, or is it just us?

Congressman Tim Mahoney, the Democrat who replaced disgraced representative Mark Foley, agreed to pay a former mistress -- who was also a staff member -- $121,000 after she threatened to sue him, ABCNews.com reports.

From The Blotter:

Mahoney, who is married, also promised the woman, Patricia Allen, a $50,000 a year job for two years at the agency that handles his campaign advertising, the staffers said.

A Mahoney spokesperson would not answer questions about the alleged affair or the settlement, but said Allen resigned of her own accord and "has not received any special payment from campaign funds."

. . . The affair between Mahoney and Allen began, according to the current and former staffers, in 2006 when Mahoney was campaigning for Congress against Foley, promising "a world that is safer, more moral."

Later in the article there's this kicker:

Senior Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives, including Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), the chair of the Democratic Caucus, have been working with Mahoney to keep the matter from hurting his re-election campaign, the Mahoney staffers said.

Late update: Later in the article, there's a transcript and a recording of Mahoney firing Allen. It's pretty damning.

"The only person that matters is guess who? Me. You understand that. That is how life really is. That is how it works," Mahoney can be heard yelling on the call to Allen.

Listen to the audio below. Full transcript after the jump.

Click To Play

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Ted Stevens

Stevens' Wife's Emails Subpoeaned

Kate Klonick | October 13, 2008, 9:34AM

Prosecutors in the case against Sen. Ted Stevens are leaving no stone unturned, subpoenaing emails sent from his wife Catherine which may have discussed the home renovations which are at the center of the charges against Stevens, the Anchorage Daily News reports.

Though the subpoena was sent Sept. 15 to Catherine Stevens' law firm, it was made public over the weekend when the defense asked a judge to intervene, calling it a "fishing expedition." The law firm had already turned over 26,000 pages of documents, but declined to turn over communications between Catherine and her husband Ted, citing spousal privilege.

On the subpoena, the government seeks the correspondence between Catherine Stevens and 34 other people. Some of those names are new, and related to evidence not yet discussed in the trial -- like the name of Anchorage jeweler George Walton and his Alaska Gold and Diamond, Co. Any documents relating to diamond earrings are also requested in the government's subpoena.

So as we head into the fourth (and possibly final) week of Stevens' trial it seems like we may have more to look forward to besides the possibility of Stevens' himself testifying and the defense's parade of illustrious character witnesses.