The Daily Muck

The Daily Muck

Will Thomas | November 14, 2007, 9:45AM

Judith Regan, one-time lover of Bernie Kerik, has filed a civil suit alleging that she was pressured by an executive at her previous job with News Corporation to lie about the affair when asked by White House investigators. The reason? According to Regan, the exec wanted to protect the potential Presidential run of one Rudy Giuliani. And though it is not disclosed in the filing, The Huffington Post notes earlier reports that Regan actually has recordings of calls between her and News Corp execs. (NY Times, Huffington Post)

The CIA videotaped at least three interrogations performed on senior al-Qaeda officials who were then being held in secret prisons abroad. Meanwhile, the CIA might be in trouble for its recent disclosure. The defense for Zacarias Moussaoui had long ago asked for interrogation transcripts of other detainees in lieu of their actual testimony, but the CIA said no such thing existed. (McClatchy)

Dr. James Holsinger, Bush's nominee for Surgeon General with a penchant for curing homosexuals, isn't too worried about Congressional obstruction. According to Kentucky's Bible Belt Blogger, Holsinger is telling folks that he will be recess appointed by Bush during the coming holiday season. Remind Congress not to turn the lights off over Christmas. (Think Progress)

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The Daily Muck

The Daily Muck

Will Thomas | November 12, 2007, 9:50AM

Just last week Dyncorp’s CEO Herb Lanese distanced his employees from those of Blackwater by stressing his firm’s cautious rules of engagement. But according to several eyewitnesses, a Dyncorp guard shot an unarmed Iraqi taxi driver on Saturday and just “drove away.” A Dyncorp spokesman commented that “we knew that we had fired at the front of the vehicle,” but “we were kind of surprised that there was a death.” (NY Times)

We're a year away from the election, and you know what that means... soft money battles! Seems oddly fitting that this season, the first independent 501c(4)s to surface would be backing Sen. Campaign Finance Reform himself John McCain (R-AZ).

When Pete Kott, the former Republican speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives admitted, "I had to cheat, steal, beg, borrow and lie... Exxon's happy. BP's happy. I'll sell my soul to the devil," a lobbyist assured him that this “will stay in this room.” But this conversation was just one of the many corrupt Alaskan political deals caught on tape by the FBI. Nobody knows what the feds' extensive video collection will ultimately mean for other operators in the state, such as Representative Don Young (R-AK) or Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK). But according to Ray "Disco Ray" Metcalfe, a former Republican state legislator, "It was common knowledge that everything was corrupt," “but “nobody wanted to talk about it.” (Washington Post)

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All Muck is Local

All Muck is Local: Illinois' Governor Tradition Continues

Will Thomas | November 11, 2007, 10:45AM

Ah, Illinois. Only this Wednesday ex-Governor George Ryan (R-IL) became prisoner 16627-424, convicted of racketeering charges in April. Now, the feds are looking closely at Rod Blagojevich (D-IL), who ran his campaign on the promise of cleaning up what Ryan left behind. With several recent indictments of the governor's political fundraisers, the feds have been closing the vise. The most troubling tie for Blagojevich these days is the relationship connecting him, his wife Patti, and Tony Rezko.

Rezko has been a longtime supporter of the Blagojevichs; The Chicago Tribune reported in 2005 that Rezko and Patti Blagojevich had a business relationship tracing back as early as 1997. In 2003, real estate deals with Rezko accounted for roughly one-quarter of Patti’s income (they have ceased their business deals since 2004). He also demonstrated what might generously be called a knack for getting friends appointed to state board positions.

But Rezko was indicted on extortion charges in 2006. And though the Governor has not been named by investigators, there is this revelation by the Associated Press:

But Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a Blagojevich political confidant and friend, is under indictment, accused of seeking campaign contributions from investment companies in exchange for getting them business with a state pension fund.

In one case, the indictment claims Rezko demanded a company make a $1.5 million contribution to "a certain public official." That was Blagojevich, according to a person familiar with the investigation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the probe is continuing.

Rezko has so far not turned state’s evidence, but with a trial coming up in February, Blagojevich might very well have reason to be nervous.

Of course, if Rezko doesn’t float your boat, there are other investigations that might sink the governor.

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