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The Daily Muck
Libby Was Eager to Reveal CIA's Role in Niger Trip
Robert L. Grenier, former CIA Iraq mission manager, testified yesterday in the perjury and obstructiontrial of former Dick Cheney aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Grenier said on the stand that Libby "was eager to make public that the CIA, not Vice President Dick Cheney, sent a former ambassador to check on Iraq's efforts to obtain nuclear material." (AP)
Sherwood Refusing to Make Settlement Payments
Former Pennsylvania rep Don Sherwood is refusing to pay his ex-mistress more than half of the $500,000 he promised her in exchange for silence, claim two people familiar with the situation. "Sherwood contends he's no longer bound by the settlement because, he charges, the ex-mistress violated its confidentiality clause." (The Politico)
Foreign Relations Committee Criticizes Buildup
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee pointedly rejected President Bush's troop surge yesterday, describing the plan as "not in the national interest" of the United States. The committee's party-line vote went 12-9, but Democrats weren't the only ones expressing frustration with the strategy. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) described the current war effort as "a pingpong game with American lives." (AP)
Election Staff Convicted
"Two election workers were convicted Wednesday of rigging a recount of the 2004 presidential election to avoid a more thorough review in Ohio's most populous county." (AP)
FEC Announces Contribution Limit Increases
"The Federal Election Commission this week announced mandatory double-digit political contribution limit increases for House, Senate and presidential elections, which likely will add to an already frenzied fundraising cycle." (Roll Call)
Does Katherine Harris Have a Future in Politics?
A photographer caught former Florida rep Katherine Harris shmoozing on the floor prior to the start of the Tuesday night's State of the Union address. Harris, who in 2006 ran what many consider to be one of the more bizarre, disastrous senatorial campaigns in recent memory (more than a dozen staffers quit), is working on a book and "mulling her future ventures." (U.S. News & World Report)
Byrd Circulates Dire Spending Warning
"In an apparent attempt to head off conservative Republicans intent on restraining Congressional spending, Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) is circulating a memo warning that without increased funding for some programs the federal government may have to lay off or furlough thousands of key homeland security, consumer safety and health care personnel." (Roll Call)
Correction: The correct number for the Sherwood settlement was $500,000, not $50,000 as we originally wrote.
Comments (13)
Crust wrote on January 25, 2007 10:54 AM:Correction of the day: OK, this time the problem is in the original article. Re "Foreign Relations Committee Criticizes Buildup", David Espo at AP apparently has an unusual idea of what constitutes a party-line vote (his exact phrasing was "along party lines"). If you read further down in the article, you'll find out that in the real world Hagel (R) joined the 11 Democrats on the committee to vote for the resolution.
X wrote on January 25, 2007 11:06 AM:Another correction: Don Sherwood's promised hush money settlement was for $500,000, not $50,000.
nitpicker wrote on January 25, 2007 11:10 AM:Doesn't a confidentiality clause usually go both ways? I don't remember Sherwood's girlfriend putting out an ad like he did.
Also, isn't Sherwood being supremely stupid here? Doesn't this nullify their agreement and allow her to, say, write a book about the affair, which would probably net her far more than $50K.
Crust wrote on January 25, 2007 11:12 AM:Nitpicker: I assume that's why he's still planning on paying her half.
Crust wrote on January 25, 2007 12:23 PM:Thanks for correcting the Sherwood settlement. What about the "party-line vote"?
Johann wrote on January 25, 2007 3:02 PM:Typical Republican parsing to confuse:
"WASHINGTON -- Former vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was eager to make public that the CIA, not Vice President Dick Cheney, sent a former ambassador to check on Iraq's efforts to obtain nuclear material, a former agency executive said yesterday."
As I recall, the Office of the VP requested that the CIA investigate the Niger forgeries. The CIA sent Wilson to investigate.
So when the above statement is said, it is true, but misleading in that it implies that the CIA was acting without being egged on by Cheney.
mbbsdphil wrote on January 25, 2007 4:07 PM:Jesuitical, n'est-ce pas? Mr. Cheney wanted the Niger lead checked out in case he could use it, then wanted to disclaim responsibility for who the CIA sent because he didn't like the results of the inquiry.
Given Mr. Cheney's cynicism and paranoia, I presume that he thought the Wilson op-ed was "another" CIA attempt to get him. By telling the truth without Mr. Cheney's preferred spin.
mbbsdphil wrote on January 25, 2007 4:19 PM:Elegant spin by Cheney and Libby: frame the disclosure of Ambassador Wilson's wife as a fight against government abuse. That would give Mr. Cheney -- the tireless foe of conscientious bureaucrats -- whistleblower protection.
Pity that when in full retribution mode, Mr. Cheney ignored that Mr. Wilson was eminently qualified for the task, he did it for no fee other than reimbursement of his out-of-pocket expenses, and his and Ms. Plame's marital relationship was well-known even by her superiors at the CIA. That puts paid to any notion that it was a conflict of interest or boondoggle. Like say, contemporaneous golf outings to Scotland by Mr. Abramoff and select members of Congress.
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