A judge has combined two suits which question the Alaska State legislature's"Troopergate" investigation. The new suit compiles that of five Republican lawmakers, who claim the independent investigation oversteps the Legislature's jurisdiction with a similar filing by the Attorney General. Vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is charged with abuse of powers in her firing of Walt Monegan, a former public safety commissioner who is said to have resisted pressure to lay off a state trooper, formerly married to Palin's sister. The first hearing is scheduled for Thursday. (Anchorage Daily News)

ProPublica publishes the affadavit of Lt. Col. Darrel Vandeveld, the military prosecutor who resigned from his post in Guantanamo last week. In the document, Vandeveld, the fourth prosecutor to resign from Guantanamo, presents evidence that would support the defense's claim that their client was a child soldier. The trial concerns a teenager charged with throwing a grenade that injured two Americans and their translator. (ProPublica)

The judge trying Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) for corruption scolded the prosecution yesterday, threatening sanctions after the government sent home a key witness. Stevens, who is charged with concealing $250,000 in gifts, had asked the judge to declare a mistrial over the weekend. (New York Times)

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Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), who faces corruption charges, yesterday asked that the trial be dismissed or retried, saying that new evidence has appeared that will exonerate him and accusing the prosecution of withholding evidence from defense lawyers. Stevens is on trial for taking and concealing $250,000 worth of gifts from VECO, an Alaska oil company. Former VECO CEO Bill Allen, the prosecution's star witness, is scheduled to take the stand tomorrow. (Politico)

Chair of the House Oversight Committee Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) pressed Lehman Brothers Friday to hand over internal documents and e-mails, part of the government's investigation of the company's failure. The documents were due last Thursday, but Lehman said they cannot comply because the papers were discarded. Lehman CEO Richard Fuld goes before the committee Oct. 6. (Committee Press Release)

The U.S. continues to hold a Chinese man in Guantanamo, despite a June ruling saying he was illegally detained. Lawyers have asked that their client, a Muslim from a region that has sought independence from China, be taken to the U.S. to testify and then released, as he faces possible dangers at home. The request will go before a federal judge Oct. 7. (Chicago Tribune)

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Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), currently on trial for accepting gifts from powerful oil company VECO, netted more than $238.5 million in earmarks for Alaska this year, narrowly edging out Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) as the top-scoring politician. In his four decades in the Senate, 84-year-old Stevens has built a reputation for steering funding his state's direction, earning the nickname "Uncle Ted." The ranking, compiled by the non-profit Taxpayers for Common Sense, showed that the special-interest spending included $2 million on a study about hibernation as treatment for battlefield trauma. (Wall Street Journal)

Alaska Gov. and GOP Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin returned campaign contributions yesterday after media reports circulated that linked the money to corrupt state legislators, such as the recently indicted state senator John Cowdery. Today, the Washington Post reports that Palin accepted more than $25,000 in gifts while governor from mining and other lobbying interests, including a $1,200 gold-nugget pin. In the 2006 governor's race, Palin campaigned on ending government corruption and special interest dealings. (AP and Washington Post)

Sarah Palin (R-AK) will not release her financial records until the day after her first vice-presidential debate, almost two weeks after the original due date. The Federal Election Commission granted the extension after the Palin campaign said it was confused about the deadline and needed more time. Biden filed the paperwork last week. (AP)

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The FBI yesterday released new evidence in their prosecution of Bruce E. Ivins, who is accused of sending the 2001 anthrax mailings, presenting an e-mail and more details about his conduct in the lab. The case, which began in 2001, has come under attack for failing to conclusively link Ivins to the anthrax attacks. Ivins committed suicide in July. (Washington Post)

Investigation of troubled insurance giant American International Group began in March, prompted by the company's record losses in Feb. The probe, one of 25 currently in process, is meant to determine if company leaders misrepresented their holdings to the public. This month the federal government funneled $85 billion to AIG, which has faced federal investigation in the past, to prevent the firm from going bankrupt. (Washington Post)

The House ethics committee yesterday initiated a formal investigation of Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), who has been accused of a range of abuses, including misusing the House's garage to store an old car and questionable real estate dealings. The allegations have led to calls that Rangel resign from the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which he chairs. Last week Rangel maintained his innocence and invited the committee to look into his affairs. (The Hill)

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Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik's defense lawyer filed a motion in court yesterday to dismiss many of the charges against Kerik. Kerik's lawyer said that the 16-count indictment against Kerik violates rules and is generally unfair. Kerik, who is accused of accepting bribes, tax fraud, and making false statements, is due in court in January. (Newsday)

Jury selection continued yesterday for the trial of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), with lawyers selecting 29 of 36 possible candidates they are required to consider before narrowing to 12. Stevens, a presence in the Senate for four decades, was indicted in July for lying about hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gifts he had received during his tenure. Lawyers said they would conclude the process today and begin opening arguments Thursday, one day later than originally planned. (The Hill)

The FBI yesterday revealed 6 of the 24 financial institutions under investigation, naming mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, insurer AIG Inc., and Lehman Brothers Holding Inc. among them. The probe, which begins as lawmakers hammer out details of the $700 billion bailout, will examine company leadership and attempt to determine if they misled the public about their holdings. (AP)

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Former acquaintances of Veco CEO Bill Allen came up yesterday as possible witnesses in Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) federal trial. The witnesses, one of whom is an underage woman alleged by some to have had a sexual affair with Bill Allen, are intended to diminish Allen's credibility as a witness against Stevens. Stevens' lawyers have also been able to successfully acquire Allen's medical records in hopes of further undermining Allen's testimony. (McClatchy/AP)

Over $13 billion dollars from the American government meant for Iraqi reconstruction projects has been wasted or stolen according to a former Iraqi official. The former official told the Senate Democratic Policy Committee yesterday that although a report on the subject was sent to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, there was never any follow up. A separate Iraqi agency has estimated that $9 billion has gone missing. (Washington Post)

Political contributions from the financial sector have the potential to shape the final bailout plan, the L.A. Times reports this morning. Gifts from financial companies outstrip donations by other groups, including lobbyists, by nearly a factor of two. In addition to contributions to the presidential candidates -- $22.5 million to Obama and $19.6 million to McCain -- the industry has given heavily to members on the committees in charge of the legislation. (LA Times)

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An Alaskan road that would have connected the small Gravina Island to the infamous and non-existent Bridge to Nowhere has been opened. The road, built with $25 million in federal tax dollars, was pushed by Gov. Sarah Palin's (R-AK) administration despite sizable opposition. Palin has highlighted her supposed opposition to the Bridge to Nowhere on the campaign trail for the vice presidency. (AP, Pro Publica)

Vice President Dick Cheney was ordered by a federal judge Saturday to preserve records of his time in office. Lawyers for the Bush administration had attempted to curtail Cheney's responsibilities under the Presidential Records Act, arguing in part that Cheney is not covered by the law as he is not in the executive branch. The decision follows a suit filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. (AP)

Sen. Ted Stevens' (R-AK) federal corruption trial begins this week with jury selection starting today. On Friday, Stevens said that he plans on testifying at his trial if his lawyers approve. Stevens also has a busy week ahead of him in Congress where he will have to defend his roughly $215 million in earmarks in the new defense bill. (Anchorage Daily News)

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Former Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL), isn't expected to be charged for sending lascivious emails and instant messages to underage Congressional pages, two federal officials told the AP. Foley resigned in 2006 shortly after ABCNews.com exposed a series of messages to pages and has been under investigation by the FBI as well as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Since resigning, Foley has gone to a treatment for alcoholism and come out as being gay, also claiming he was molested as a child by a priest. An official announcement regarding Foley's investigation is expected today. (AP)

"Alaska's Congressman," 35-year incumbent Rep. Don Young, has narrowly eked out victory in his GOP primary race against Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell. The race came down to only a 304-vote margin of victory. Parnell declined a recount and conceded the race on Thursday. Young now faces a former Alaska state representative Ethan Berkowitz in the general election. With federal investigations dogging Young, Berkowitz is heavily favored to win, leading the polls by double digits. (The Hill)

Indicted Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) has been okayed to start a legal expense fund to help pay for his defense in his corruption trial set to begin next week. Stevens' lawyers have filed dozens of motions in the weeks since the veteran senator's indictment including requests for the medical records from the prosecution's star witness, Bill Allen. Yesterday, a judge ruled that Stevens' defense can probe the mental health of Allen and ordered the government to hand over records to Stevens'. (CQ Politics, AP)

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Two former officials at the Department of Justice appear to be tied up in the indictment of Jack Abramoff connected lobbyist Kevin Ring. Former Solicitor General Paul Clement and chief of staff to former Attorney General John Ashcroft both have had correspondence with Ring that prosecutors Wednesday said they intend to turn over to the court. Ring was indicted on conspiracy, obstruction of justice, bribery, and fraud charges earlier this month. (AP)

Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy (D-VT) said during FBI Director Robert Mueller's testimony Wednesday that he does not believe that suspect Bruce Ivins acted alone in the 2001 anthrax attacks. Leahy, who was one of the targets in the attacks, added that he was not convinced that Ivins was involved at all. Mueller noted that the National Academy of Sciences will conduct an independent review of the scientific evidence in the case. (AP)

A law enforcement investigation into Alaska State Sen. Lesil McGuire (R) over a disturbance on a recent Alaska Airlines flight has ended without charges. According to witnesses, State Sen. McGuire refused to turn off her BlackBerry during the flight and acted out when she was denied alcohol. The incident was revealed in an official report released Tuesday. (Anchorage Daily News)

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Embattled Rep. Charlie Rangel will not step down as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rangel's lawyer, Lanny Davis, said Tuesday that Speaker Nancy Pelosi supports Rangel's decision to keep the position. Rangel has been taking increasing fire over items not reported on his financial disclosure forms. (New York Times)

FBI Director Robert Mueller testified to the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday that the new proposed rules for FBI national security investigations would help protect Americans from terrorists. Many of the Democrats on the committee were dubious of the new guidelines, saying that they do not trust the FBI or the Department of Justice to protect civil liberties and privacy rights. Mueller returns to Congress today, this time to the Senate Judiciary Committee. (AP)

A scientist who had assisted in the government's investigation of the 2001 anthrax mailings, told the Los Angeles Times yesterday, that he made an "honest mistake" in classifying the anthrax he examined as weaponized. Peter Jahrling's statement came shortly after FBI Director Robert Mueller said in a hearing yesterday (see above) that the National Academy of Sciences would be overseeing the review of the FBI's findings that another scientist, Bruce Ivins was behind the anthrax attacks. (Los Angeles Times)

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House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY), who is facing increasing criticism over his finances, met Monday night with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Rangel refused to comment on the meeting last night, but Pelosi insisted that it was focused on Monday's stock market plummet. Pelosi also claimed she did not ask Rangel to step down as House Ways and Means Chairman. (Politico)

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's former chief of staff turned down a plea deal Monday. The aide, Christine Beatty, is at the center of the Kilpatrick scandal due to their affair and the ensuing text messages. Beatty is charged with lying under oath about her relationship with Kilpatrick. Kwame Kilpatrick resigned as part of a plea deal earlier this month and will leave office Thursday. (New York Times)

Anchorage mayor and Sen. Ted Stevens challenger Mark Begich (D-AK) has run into trouble for omitting items on his state financial disclosure statement. The Alaska Public Offices Commission is considering a recommendation that Begich pay a $1,420 fine for the error. Alaska Republican Party spokesman McHugh Pierre filed a compliant to the commission earlier this summer. (Anchorage Daily News)

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The Justice Department proposed new FBI guidelines on Friday that would apply to national security and foreign intelligence threats. The guidelines, which would expand physical surveillance, have come under heavy criticism by the ACLU and some Democrats for possibly allowing for racial, ethnic, and religious targeting. FBI Director Robert Muller is set to testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee about the guidelines on Wednesday. (AP)

Hunter Biden, son of Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), has quit federal lobbying. Hunter, who was at the lobbying firm Oldaker, Biden & Belair, announced that he was stepping down from the industry in a letter dated from August that was made public last Friday. Biden's firm primarily tried to get money for colleges and hospitals from appropriation bills. (AP)

The Air Force was criticized Friday by a Pentagon advisory group for poor management of the nuclear weapons arsenal. The panel, which recommended that the Air Force consolidate nuclear command, said that the poor handling has resulted in a deterioration of international confidence in the United States' protection ability. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the Air Force is considering the panel's recommendation. (AP)

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The former employee of Cindy McCain's non-profit who was allegedly fired from his position over his knowledge of McCain's drug use, gave his first public interview in 15 years to the Washington Post. The employee, Tom Gosinski, reported McCain's addiction to the Drug Enforcement Administration in 1993, and later was charged by the McCains with extortion when he sued for wrongful termination. (Washington Post)

The recent investigation into the Interior Department's "culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" could mean complications for law makers who vote next week on expanded offshore drilling. The investigation revealed that between 2002 and 2006, 19 government representatives received various gifts and gratuities from oil and gas companies and "frequently consumed alcohol at industry functions, had used cocaine and marijuana, and had sexual relationships with oil and natural gas company representatives." (AP)

A military judge delayed the case of a Canadian detainee at Guantanamo Bay yesterday. The trial of Omar Khadr was originally set for Oct. 8 and a new trial date has not been set. Khadr is accused of throwing a grenade that killed U.S. soldier in the summer of 2002 during a firefight in Afghanistan. Conviction could result in a life sentence. (Miami Herald)

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House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) has deferred Wednesday's vote of contempt for Attorney Gen. Michael Mukasey. The vote was over the Department of Justice refusing to hand over subpoenaed documents to the committee. The deferral came in light of a letter from the Justice Department requesting the deferral along with some of the documents in question. (House Judiciary Committee)

Sen. Larry Craig's (R-ID) lawyers yesterday asked a Minnesota Court to void Craig's guilty plea last year to disorderly conduct after he was arrested in a Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport bathroom. Craig's lawyer claimed that the complaint against Craig was not enough to prove him guilty. Sen. Craig is not seeking re-election for his senate seat which expires in January. (Reuters)

House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) sent letters yesterday to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director James Lockhart requesting documents related to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The documents in question are related to the severance compensation for the former CEOs of Freddie and Fannie. (House Oversight Committee)

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The sexual affair between a former Texas judge and a former district attorney has threatened to complicate the conviction and sentencing of a death row case. The judge, Verla Sue Holland, admitted under oath on Monday, that she and Thomas O'Connell carried on an affair for many years. Charles Dean Hood had been scheduled for execution today, but was granted a stay by the Court of Appeals for a hearing on his challenge to jury instructions. The court dismissed the claims that Hood had not received a fair trial due to the affair. (Chicago Tribune)

Two senators, one Republican and one Democrat, have come together to accuse the Department of Labor for failing to uphold the "spirit and goals" of laws protecting whistleblowers. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) wrote the letter in reaction to a recent Wall Street Journal article that showed the government has ruled in favor of whistleblowers in only 17 out of 1,273 complaints. (Wall Street Journal)

Republicans called for embattled Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) to step down from his post as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee until the ethics complaints against him are resolved. House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-OH) wrote to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) requesting she insist that Rangel step down. Complaints over Rangel stem from his failure to disclose income from a rental property in the Dominican Republic. (Los Angeles Times)

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Three out of eight defendants in the supposed plot to blow up trans-Atlantic airplanes were convicted in London Monday of conspiracy to commit murder. However, none of the defendants was convicted of the more serious charge of conspiracy to use liquid explosives on airplanes. The alleged terrorist plot was uncovered in August 2006. (New York Times)

Former Haliburton executive and KBR chief Albert Stanley has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors after pleading guilty last week to bribery for deals in Nigeria. Federal officials believe that Stanley's cooperation could lead to further indictments in the oil industry in cases involving the bribery of foreign governments. (ProPublica and PBS' Frontline)

Vice President Dick Cheney is being sued by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington [CREW]. The liberal watchdog group is seeking a court order to ensure that Cheney complies with the post-Watergate Presidential Records Act and eventually releases records publicly. CREW's lawsuit expresses the concern that Cheney will try to skirt the law by claiming he is not a member of the executive branch. (AP)

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The Israeli police have recommended that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert be indicted on charges of bribe-taking, fraud and breach of trust. Olmert is accused of accepting large sums of cash from a Long Island businessman, Morris Talansky, who is currently under investigation by the FBI. Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz is expected to decide whether to prosecute Olmert within a few weeks. (New York Times)

Iraqi leaders expressed surprise and disappointment at the recent revelation in a new book by Bob Woodward that the United States government has been spying on Iraqi politicians. A spokesperson for the Iraqi government said that the report, if true, "reflects that there is no trust" between the two governments. Other Iraqi politicians suggested that the report could make ongoing negotiations about U.S. troop levels more difficult. White House press secretary Dana Perino had no comment on the allegations. (Washington Post)

Leading members of Congress are demanding more information about the FBI's seven year investigation into the anthrax killings, unconvinced by the FBI's declaration that army scientist Bruce E. Ivins was behind the attacks. In a letter to FBI director Robert Mueller, Democratic congressional leaders argued that there were many lingering questions for the FBI to continue to investigate. Ivins committed suicide while under investigation this July. (New York Times)

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The Bush administration has been conducting extensive espionage on Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, as well as others in his staff and government, according to a new book by Bob Woodward entitled The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008. One source claims that "We know everything [Maliki] says". Woodward's book, scheduled to be published on Monday, details the "groundbreaking" covert operations behind recent U.S. efforts in Iraq. (Washington Post)

The same KBR and Halliburton executive who recently pleaded guilty to bribing officials in Nigeria has secured questionable contracts all over the world, according to Justice Department documents. Albert Stanley had a central role in securing multi-billion dollar construction contracts in Malaysia, Egypt and Yemen, which included $10 to $15 million "success fees" given to an unnamed consultant, who allegedly gave kickbacks to Stanley. (Wall Street Journal)

Another senior official of the Service Employees International Union has stepped aside, and two additional staffers have been fired over charges of retaliation against employees in connection to the widening scandal over the union's misuse of funds. It is alleged that SEIU employees who had refused to sign a letter showing support for Los Angeles area SEIU president Tyrone Freeman had been transfered, and had their cell phone service suspended, and that one such employee was fired. SEIU president Andy Stern told the Los Angeles Times that retaliation against employees was "deeply offensive to our core values as a union" and that the union will move "immediately and aggressively" to punish those responsible. (Los Angeles Times)

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The former chief executive of security contractor KBR has pleaded guilty to charges of bribing foreign officials. Albert Stanley paid Nigerian officials $182 million and in return, received contracts to build a $6 billion liquefied natural gas complex. Stanley faces a prison term of up to 7 years, and the SEC is considering an additional civil action against the firm. KBR is a former subsidiary of Hallburton. (New York Times)

Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is close to making a plea deal that would resolve months of uncertainty about the indicted mayor's future. Prosecutors expect Kilpatrick will make a guilty plea this morning. Kilpatrick has been indicted on eight felonies, including perjury. If Kilpatrick is convicted of any one of these felonies, then he will automatically be expelled from his office. (AP)

Federal judge Samuel Kent pleaded not guilty today to two counts of abusive sexual conduct and one count of aggravated attempted sexual abuse. The judge is accused of attempting to force a deputy court clerk to have oral sex, among other incidents of sexual coercion. Kent called the charges "flagrant" and "scurrilous" and promised "a horde of witnesses" in his defense. (AP)

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Tom DeLay may be able to escape prosecution for money laundering, on the grounds that the Texas money laundering statute does not apply to checks, according to Republican justices in Texas. A panel of judges voted along party lines not to rehear a decision that would exempt checks from the definition of "funds" in the money laundering law. DeLay's attorneys believe that this will force prosecutors to dismiss charges against DeLay. (Houston Chronicle)

Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee John Conyers demanded an explanation for why the Justice Department failed to pursue charges against former Attorney Gen. Alberto Gonzales following yesterday's release of an inspector general report concluding that Gonzales mishandled classified information. According to Conyers, the report clearly indicates that Gonzales violated department rules. (House Judiciary Committee)

A second U.S. after-battle investigation continues to contradict reports by Afghan officials, human rights groups, and the United Nations that large numbers of civilians were killed in a recent U.S. airstrike. The new U.S. investigation claims that between 30 and 35 Taliban militants were killed in the attack, along with seven civilians. The U.N. previously found "convincing evidence" that up to 90 civilians were killed. (AP)

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The secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court [FISC] which determines whether government wiretapping of terrorism suspects is constitutional, refuses to grant the public access to their decisions and deliberations. The court recently denied a request by the ACLU to access unclassified portions of FISC rulings, citing concerns that classified information could be compromised. The ACLU criticized the decision, arguing that "[t]he intelligence court should not be deciding important constitutional issues in secret judicial opinions issued after secret hearings at which only the government is permitted to appear." (ACLU)

Another senior official has left the Office of Special Counsel, whose leader, Scott Bloch, has been under investigation for destroying documents and retaliating against employees. Special Counsel chief of staff Jim Mitchell was reportedly fired without warning or explanation. The firing comes one month after the resignation of deputy special council Jim Byrne, who accused Bloch of putting "political agendas and personal vendettas" ahead of the office's mission. (NPR)

The Service Employees International Union is now being investigated by the U.S. Labor Department, for alleged misappropriation of hundreds of thousands of dollars in union funds. Three union leaders, including president Tyrone Freeman, have already stepped aside pending the investigation. A SEIU spokewoman said that the union was fully cooperating. (Los Angeles Times)

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NATO's top commander in Afghanistan called for a joint investigation into a recent U.S. airstrike. The United States has maintained that only five civilians were killed in the attack, contradicting reports by Afghan officials, human rights groups, and the United Nations, which found "convincing evidence" that up to 90 civilians were killed. In Kabul, hundreds of protesters took to the streets to protest the killing of civilians. (Washington Post, Reuters)

Lawyers for Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick offered a plea deal, in which the indicted mayor would plead guilty to two felonies, make restitution, serve five years of probation, give up his law license, do 300 hours of community service and agree not to run for office for two years. In return, Kilpatrick would avoid serving time in prison. (AP)

The Republican judges handling Tom DeLay's corruption trial inappropriately delayed the resolution of the trial and interfered with the administration of justice, according to a justice on the 3rd Court of Appeals. Despite designating the trial as an accelerated case, the lower court took years to resolve pretrial proceedings. (Austin American-Statesman)

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