The Cunningham Scandal: A White House Link?

It's a cliche: what a difference a Democratic congressional majority makes. The US attorney scandal, Walter Reed, the suppression of global warming data, the FBI's misuse of national security letters--Democratic legislators have been demanding documents, testimony and answers. Given that they now hold the purse strings and can shoot out subpoenas, the Democrats can no longer be ignored by the White House, executive agencies, and the media. Representative Henry Waxman, the relentless Democratic chairman of the government oversight and reform committee, has been leading the pack in investigating allegations of administration wrongdoing. (See my 2005 profile of Waxman here.) There's a lot for Waxman to cover, and he's being thorough. Consider the letter he sent the White House on Monday.

In that note to Joshua Bolten, President Bush's chief of staff, Waxman requested information about a $140,000 contract the White House awarded in July 2002 to MZM, Inc. This was Mitchell Wade's company. He's the (now former-) military contractor who paid more than $1 million in bribes to Republican Representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who's in jail for having accepted these and other bribes in return for steering federal contracts to Wade and Brent Wilkes, another defense contractor. (Wade pleaded guilty; Wilkes has not.) What's intriguing about the contract Wade received from the White House is that its amount equals the price Wade paid in August 2002 to buy the Duke-Stir, the yacht Cunningham lived (and partied) on in Washington. According to the sentencing recommendation memo in Cunningham's case, Cunningham himself negotiated the $140,000 purchase price of the boat in the summer of 2002. This raises the intriguing possibility that Wade that summer needed money to buy Cunningham the yacht and--presto--a White House contract materialized.

And there's more: this contract was Wade's first prime contract with the federal government. The firm had been incorporated in 1993 but had pulled in no revenue through 2001. So Cunningham scandal watchers have wondered, did a White House contract help launch Wade on his felonious ways, and was this contract legitimate?

The modest contract reportedly covered supplying computers and office furniture to Vice President Dick Cheney's office. By the time it was signed, MZM, which had become an approved federal contractor only two months earlier, was already bribing Cunningham, a member of the influential defense appropriations subcommittee. Two months later, in September 2002, MZM hit it big, scoring a $250 million, five-year contract with the General Services Administration. Look at the timeline, one congressional investigator notes: May, MZM was listed as a federal supplier; July, it won a White House contract for $140,000; September, it obtained a $250 million contract. A not-too-suspicious mind could wonder if something--or someone--was juicing the process.

A look at that first contract--and how it had come to be--would seem a no-brainer for investigators. Plenty of MZM's subsequent doings have been probed. But as Waxman notes, "To date, however, there has been no examination of the circumstances surrounding MZM's initial federal contract and the role that White House officials played in the award and execution of the contract."

Months ago, I tried to obtain information about this contract. According to federal procurement records, the contract was for "ADP systems development services" and "custom computer programming services." What did MZM do for the White House under these terms? I contacted the Interior Department. Why Interior? It's home to an interagency contracting office that handles procurement for the White House. This office was established during the Clinton administration as a good-government measure aimed at consolidating contracting efforts. But this procurement reform has become subject to abuse. A recent Senate armed services committee hearing examined how this change in the procurement system has allowed agencies to escape effective oversight. A 2005 Government Accountability Office report slammed the Interior Department's interagency contracting office for "significant problems" in handling Pentagon contracts granted to CACI International for interrogation and "other intelligence-related services" in Iraq.

I asked the Interior Department if I could obtain a copy of the MZM contract under the Freedom of Information Act. The answer: you can submit a FOIA request, but you won't get anything. "It's national security," an Interior official told me, reciting various exemptions. The release of this information, he said, was restricted not by the Interior Department but by the Executive Office of the President because it "includes techniques and procedures used by the Secret Service for law enforcement investigations" and because its disclosure "could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law." He added, "There is no way to get any details."

A committee chairman with access to subpoenas might have better luck. Waxman has asked for all MZM contracts related to the White House and other materials, such as any communications between Wade, Wilkes, MZM officials and White House employees. Waxman's request also covers communications between the White House and Interior relating to MZM--for the obvious reason.

It could be that MZM in the summer of 2002 managed to snag a small White House contract in legitimate fashion, even as Wade was plotting a quick, bribery-greased rise to the top. But given that the Cunningham/MZM tale is one of sleaze and crime--I haven't even mentioned the prostitutes Cunningham received as bribes--Wade's first contract with the Bush administration deserves scrutiny. Republican legislators--no surprise--expressed no interest in this when they ran Congress. And, coincidentally or not, the US attorney in charge of the Cunningham case, Carol Lam, is one of the prosecutors who was fired by the Bush administration. But here comes Waxman, and the Case of MZM's First Contract is alive and open.

Update: See this Talking Points Memo posting for more news on this MZM contract.

******

DON"T FORGET ABOUT HUBRIS: THE INSIDE STORY OF SPIN, SCANDAL, AND THE SELLING OF THE IRAQ WAR, the best-selling book by David Corn and Michael Isikoff. Click here for information on the book. The New York Times calls Hubris "the most comprehensive account of the White House's political machinations" and "fascinating reading." The Washington Post says, "There have been many books about the Iraq war....This one, however, pulls together with unusually shocking clarity the multiple failures of process and statecraft." Tom Brokaw notes Hubris "is a bold and provocative book that will quickly become an explosive part of the national debate on how we got involved in Iraq." Hendrik Hertzberg, senior editor of The New Yorker notes, "The selling of Bush's Iraq debacle is one of the most important--and appalling--stories of the last half-century, and Michael Isikoff and David Corn have reported the hell out of it." For highlights from Hubris, click here.

Comments (65)

1. I can't resist!

   Be the First on a Corn posting at The Nation! Back later!

   Posted by Happy at 03/27/2007 @ 4:25pm

2. Geez, Happy, all your Republican buddies will be in jail by then, and you'll have missed all the fun.

   Posted by MyParadigm at 03/27/2007 @ 4:29pm

3. I particularly like the part where you can't find anything out because it would jeopardize national security. I love this guy, Nixon. I mean Bush.

   Posted by MyParadigm at 03/27/2007 @ 4:32pm

4. Gee, Mr Corn...this is strange.

   A story of such obvious criminality and an investigation by Henry Waxman would elicit proclamations from your colleage John Nichols that "impeachment is imminent"...

   yet not from you?!?!?!?

   Posted by Mask at 03/27/2007 @ 4:35pm

5. Mr. Corn's latest grenade: This raises the intriguing possibility that Wade that summer needed money to buy Cunningham the yacht and--presto--a White House contract materialized.

   and, of course, his back door: It could be that MZM in the summer of 2002 managed to snag a small White House contract in legitimate fashion, even as...

   Since there was Cunningham was caught playing fires, could this `grenade' be more potent than a smoke bomb? Hmmmmm....some unsupervised thirty-something underlings played with matches?

   Posted by Happy at 03/27/2007 @ 4:43pm

6. Dick Cheney's office furniture relates to national security????

   David - I think you really should submit a FOIA request. It's one thing for a guy on the phone to tell you it will not work and quite another for the government to put something on paper, presumably, denying the FOIA request.

   Posted by Hman23 at 03/27/2007 @ 4:48pm

7. Ah, spring is in the air, at last. And another turd blossom pokes its way towards the sun...

   Posted by nathanhale at 03/27/2007 @ 4:49pm

8. That's right Happy. Cunningham was only ousted for accepting bribes. Mitchell Wade supplied $1M of those bribes. Wade ran MZM. Carol Lam was sacked by the White House. Nothing to see here and no need for at least an INVESTIGATION to clear this up.

   Posted by Hman23 at 03/27/2007 @ 4:51pm

9. That's right Happy. Cunningham was only ousted for accepting bribes. Mitchell Wade supplied $1M of those bribes. Wade ran MZM. Carol Lam was sacked by the White House. Nothing to see here and no need for at least an INVESTIGATION to clear this up.

   Posted by HMAN23 03/27/2007 @ 4:51pm | ignore this person

   You don't know me nearly as well as you think! I have no problem w/exposing legitimate Gov't corruption regardless of party....While I didn't coin the pharase "Power corrupts", I wholeheartedly believe it to be universally true. IF you think Dem politicians are any different, you could never be HAPPY!

   Posted by Happy at 03/27/2007 @ 4:59pm

10. Gee, Mr Corn...this is strange.

    A story of such obvious criminality and an investigation by Henry Waxman would elicit proclamations from your colleage John Nichols that "impeachment is imminent"...

    yet not from you?!?!?!?

    Posted by MASK

    Do you really need attention so desperately?

    Posted by mtspence05 at 03/27/2007 @ 5:10pm

11. Wouldn't it be ironic if this works out to be the downfall of Bush / Chenney?

    I mean given the enormous abuses of power and criminal acts commited by this WH and the thing that takes them down is a $140,000 payment of taxpayer money to Cunningham through Wade.

    And again....the trail goes back to Chenney, not Bush....I'm more and more convinced that Bush didn't and probably still doesn't have a clue what the hell Chenney was doing.

    Posted by freedomplease at 03/27/2007 @ 5:14pm

12. i'm getting stupider every day, i know, but this is pretty labrynthine.

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 03/27/2007 @ 6:24pm

13. Do you really need attention so desperately?

    Posted by MTSPENCE05 03/27/2007 @ 5:10pm

    No, YOU seem to give me plenty.

    Posted by Mask at 03/27/2007 @ 7:47pm

14. This reeks of just the usual political theater

    Here we see the usual flippant dismissal of the scandal du jour...with the usual tired phrase.

    Posted by Balrog at 03/27/2007 @ 8:47pm

15. Lets see, 140k for office furniture. 140k for a yacht.

    Prostitutes, defense contract overcharging, graft, cronyism. Never heard of that before, especially in this admin.

    nope, nuthin' to see here folks. Move along, you're holding up the ostrich sheep.

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/27/2007 @ 8:48pm

16. will some one PLEASE put Chimpies thing in their mouth so we can get some outrage from the American Taliban?

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/27/2007 @ 8:49pm

17. Posted by LVLIBERTY1 03/27/2007 @ 8:12pm

    Lam was set to indict another round of perps. those are on hold now. Any guess which side of the political spectrum those names on the list will hail from? (Hint: Dusty)

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/27/2007 @ 8:51pm

18. Posted by LVLIBERTY1 03/27/2007 @ 9:09pm | ignore this person

    If you read the history of Watergate, this is precisely how the Republicans spoke about Nixon's "third rate burgalary"...

    ...just before the truth was exposed...and Tricky Dick found himself blubbering "I am not a crook".

    Posted by Lillian at 03/27/2007 @ 9:47pm

19. Wait a sec... LVLIBERTY1 is complaining about partisan politics regarding the Bush Administration? I almost spit up my drink at that one.

    And then he went on to say:

    "One day maybe we will finally revise the constitution and eliminate the waste known as Congress."

    Sounds like you are looking for a Reichstag fire to me.

    Posted by jorcheim at 03/27/2007 @ 10:14pm

20. "One day maybe we will finally revise the bible and eliminate the waste known as lvliberty."

    Posted by johannesrolf at 03/27/2007 @ 10:17pm

21. JOHANNESROLF:

    That's the genetic code, not the Bible. Besides, even if LVLIBERTY1 didn't exist, it would be necessary to create him, just so we have a barometer for how far this great nation has fallen.

    Posted by jorcheim at 03/27/2007 @ 10:20pm

22. blah, blah, blah,

    Posted by LVLIBERTY1 03/27/2007 @ 9:09pm

    Whats amatter lv?l your beloved party of slime is falling from the sky and all you can say in support is "blah, blah, blah,"

    You really are the Great Antichrist next thing we know you will be supporting pedophiles, just how many prostitutes did Cunny and friends go through and ? were they of age?

    To bad Lam got ousted before the rest of the scum could be outed.

    Posted by dycel8r at 03/27/2007 @ 10:37pm

23. David, the White House $140,000 contract was a task order under a GSA blanket purchase agreement signed on May 13, 2002. The contract number is GS-35F-0486M. You can see the GSA schedule for the BPA here: https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F0486M/0ADINO.1D5AI5_GS-35F-04 86M_AISITCS0107.PDF

    MZM collected over $11 million (including the $140,000 White House contract) under this BPA.

    In addition, MZM got two other BPA. One was from DITCO for $250 million signed in September, 2002 (contract #DCA20002A5016), the other was from GSA for the MOBIS program signed on July 19, 2005 (contract #GS-10F-0392R).

    You can find the GSA schedule for GS-10F-0392R here: https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS10F0392R/08GBTV.1774B6_GS-10F-03 92R_GS10F0392RP1.DOC

    In total MZM raked in over $176 million on the three BPAs. The two GSA BPAs are still active and MZM's latest incarnation, Athena Innovative Solutions, is continuing to get task orders under these BPAs.

    You can see all task orders and how much money MZM made here: http://www.fedspending.org/fpds/fpds.php?parent_id=197275&sortby=u&detai l=-1&datype=T&reptype=r&database=fpds&fiscal_year=&submit=GO

    You can see my post from last Sunday which details MZM's transactions here: http://www.docstrangelove.com/2007/03/26/carol-lam-vs-the-white-house-gr avy-train/

    Someone should try to get hold of the original RFP (which will include sample task orders) for the first BPA from the GSA - the solicitation is not posted on Fedbizopps. Someone should also try to get MZM's response to the RFP under an FOIA request from the GSA. It will shed a lot of light on these curious contracts.

    Posted by Mash at 03/27/2007 @ 11:36pm

24. Please don't let this one go. I smell bribery all over it.

    Posted by lenhoffcpa at 03/28/2007 @ 01:19am

25. MASH @ 11:36 Awesome post. Your research has great value. I saw teamwork like this at TPM during the DOJ document dumps. Finally getting to your post, having read through all the Republic apologists posts before it, made it all worth it, except of course Happy, who is truly one of a thousand points of light, and if you don't believe me ask him, he'll tell you.... over and over and over.

    Posted by NeilSagan at 03/28/2007 @ 02:03am

26. Hear here, Mash! Contract numbers of specific documents and other such verifiable details make for great prosecutorial effectiveness. Impeach Cheney/Bush, please!

    Posted by lewwelge at 03/28/2007 @ 06:51am

27. RIOcacadePOLLO, when Jefferson gets indicted, you can come back and squawk, of course nobody will argue with you because we will recognize the indictment. Unlike the neo-cons, most of the humans here know that an indictment means something. Till then, wake up, smell the coffee, get a grip. Your president is surrounded by the most corrupt group of individuals EVER!!! These guys make a land deal in Arkansas look like a , well, a land deal in Arkansas. Just think, they have been found GUILTY of stealing from the military!!! Your precious military has been swindled. I would think that would make you angry at the swindlers, not the people working to expose the graft.

    Not much worse than a Nationalist Apologist. Except for maybe a Taliban Nationalist Apologist. don't you have some plastic Buddha's you can melt?

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/28/2007 @ 08:40am

28. So, RIO, LUVVY, maybe you can answer MASH's questions?

    "The question must be asked - how does a small business which has only one prior past performance in buying furniture secure a massive DOD contract worth up to $250 million dollars to do classified work without any prior DOD related experience? The question must be asked - how did the White House grant a series of unprecedented contracts in 2004 for "intelligence services" to the very same company that the White House previously hired to buy furniture? The question must be asked - since the DCA20002A5016 contract has been shown to involve bribery, were there any improprieties involved in the granting of task orders by the White House to MZM under this BPA?"

    Darn fine work there, MASH. MAASCH could learn from you. good thing there are no welfare mothers involved here, then things would get sticky, yes? then the neo's would get all in a huff.

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/28/2007 @ 09:06am

29. One day maybe we will finally revise the constitution and eliminate the waste known as Congress.

    Posted by LVLIBERTY1 03/27/2007 @ 9:09pm

    Ameican Taliban. Kook of the 1st order. Do you say a prayer for King George before you lay yourself down to sleep?

    "Oh Lord, bribery is the grease that keeps the coffers flowing. Please let the oversight committees be smote by your ever watchful Hand. Waste, fraud and abuse are good for your Christian Nation. those shameful lefties need to be taught that stealing from the Army is good for America, so smite them too. And please guide our nookleeyar ICBM's safely into their targets. Amen "

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/28/2007 @ 09:11am

30. One day maybe we will finally revise the constitution and eliminate the waste known as Congress.

    Posted by LVLIBERTY1 03/27/2007 @ 9:09pm

    And this is why the neo-cons welcome endless war. They're not in it to "win" (they can't even tell you what constitutes winning) they have no intention of declaring victory and leaving under any circumstance as to do so would diminish the power of the Unitary Executive.

    Posted by freedomplease at 03/28/2007 @ 09:30am

31. You're right, Freedomplease. Rearranging their prejudices to target procrustean phallic symbols is the very essence of the empirious patriarchal politics we here term neo-conservatism.

    Posted by lewwelge at 03/28/2007 @ 09:52am

32. Lewwelge,

    Whatever you wrote, it sure sounds good!

    Posted by freedomplease at 03/28/2007 @ 10:08am

33. "Waxman who never tires of being one of the worst congressman in history (perhaps exceeded only Maxine Waters"Posted by LVLIBERTY1 03/27/2007 @ 9:09pm

    Why do you think Maxine Waters is a bad congresswoman? Do you reside in her district?

    Posted by k330k at 03/28/2007 @ 10:45am

34. Posted by FRANKGRITS 03/27/2007 @ 10:23pm

    You do know that those findings were disputed, don't you? Besides, I've always thought Easter was about the Resurrection of Christ. Oh yeah, jelly beans suck.

    Posted by k330k at 03/28/2007 @ 10:52am

35. MASH -

    I have to echo the praise from the other posters. That is some fine research that puts a ton of flesh on David's post.

    Liberty, you have some "facts" now, and a bunch of questions. What say you?

    Posted by Hman23 at 03/28/2007 @ 10:57am

36. ...when Jefferson gets indicted, you can come back and squawk, of course nobody will argue with you because we will recognize the indictment. Unlike the neo-cons, most of the humans here know that an indictment means something.....

    Posted by CRABWALK 03/28/2007 @ 08:40am | ignore this person

    Let's see, Corn lobs his latest MZM `grenade' and sure as the rising moon, the moonbats start squawking in unison.....I must have missed an "indictment" that David surely must have menitoned but seems only detectable by moonbat sonar!

    ....That is some fine research that puts a ton of flesh on David's post.

    Posted by HMAN23 03/28/2007 @ 10:57am | ignore this person

    Hey, HMAN, I thought you'd be smarter! I.m certain David is the one who got Waxman going and I will bet The Nation that he (or an assistant) has already done "fine research"!

    Posted by Happy at 03/28/2007 @ 11:16am

37. You are still here Happy?

    I thought there was "nothing to see here."

    Posted by Hman23 at 03/28/2007 @ 11:45am

38. If you "missed the indictement," perhaps it was because Lam got canned before she could get one.

    Posted by Hman23 at 03/28/2007 @ 11:46am

39. And Happy, typically an investigation occurs BEFORE an indictment . . . not the other way around.

    Posted by Hman23 at 03/28/2007 @ 11:47am

40. Actually, she indicted and CONVICTED Duke, She indicted Wilkes and Foggo. Sorry you missed it. The Foggo indictment was handed down 2/13/07, case #3:07-cr-00329-LAB

    Included in the indictment is a sordid tale of bribery and influence peddling. This story continues with the procurement of prostitutes in Washington DC, California and Hawaii. Foggo gave classified information to Wilkes despite the fact that Wilkes never had security clearance.

    Are these things that HAPPY likes to see in guvt?

    Basic question, why would a good fiscal conservative like Dick Cheny need $140,000 worth of furniture when he is out campaigning for tax cuts? And how did a company with no past secure a 250 million dollar contract?

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/28/2007 @ 12:18pm

41. Crab -

    What I want to know is how does office furniture relate to "national security?"

    Posted by Hman23 at 03/28/2007 @ 12:37pm

42. Crab -

    What I want to know is how does office furniture relate to "national security?"

    Posted by HMAN23 03/28/2007 @ 12:37pm

    Desks to hide under?

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/28/2007 @ 12:48pm

43. Damn and curses the democrats aren't going to get Rio's vote next time around...and I thought that an "Independent" that refers to the Democrats as "Demoncrats" could be swayed.

    (Nobody cares what miniscule minorities like you think)

    Posted by freedomplease at 03/28/2007 @ 1:08pm

44. Authoritarians like Happy will refuse to believe Bush is a liar, thief or fraud unless and until become eyewitnesses to his crimes. Put a gun in Bush's hand and send him into the Gas'n Save – If they're there to, then they night believe it.

    But hear him claim mass quantities of Nigerian Uranium, 9/11 and Saddam, mobile bio weapons labs and they'll hold on to these justifications of propriety with every shred of their belief systems. No amount of compelling evidence will penetrate their brains and allow them to assess it independently of their almost fanatical allegiance to their favorite cowboy [from Greenwich CT, Andover and Yale]. I just love the way he says switch grass.

    There is one thing to say about the 29% who believe Bush is competent. They are ignorant or stupid but they're Americans so you can't shoot 'em.

    Posted by NeilSagan at 03/28/2007 @ 4:07pm

45. You are still here Happy? I thought there was "nothing to see here."

    Posted by HMAN23 03/28/2007 @ 11:45am

    If you "missed the indictement,"...

    Posted by HMAN23 03/28/2007 @ 11:46am

    And Happy, typically an investigation occurs BEFORE an indictment...

    Posted by HMAN23 03/28/2007 @ 11:47am

    H...H....H...H...H..H....HMAN, are you stuttering? 3 `dear HAPPY' posts in 3 minutes? Your comprehension skill and memory are also suspect! A fine paralegal/lawyer you must be!

    Refresh my memory as to when I said "nothing to see here"....a fav phrase the nose-turned-up moonbats just can't say enough of!

    I stated expressly that I "must have missed an indictment", yet you turn that into "if".....Is this how folks that `interpret' words do for a living? BTW, what is your definition of the word "is" is?

    I won't argue investigations before indictments.....but again, you failed to get my point that before investigations, moonbats must squawk, and squawk loudly, on David's cue!

    Posted by Happy at 03/28/2007 @ 5:27pm

46. Happy -

    My mistake on the "indictment" post. I did misread Crab's post.

    The "nothing to see here" was obviously not meant as a quote of your words, but your obvious implication - as anyone familiar with your posts will recognize. But, as you wish, I will be more percise with you in the future.

    As for investigations before indictments, I am glad we can agree on something. I think investigation into this circumstances is what most are asking for here.

    Posted by Hman23 at 03/28/2007 @ 6:08pm

47. "precise"

    Posted by Hman23 at 03/28/2007 @ 6:09pm

48. these guys are so smll time. the royal uncle made 500 million PROFIT by being able to predict when the u.s. would go to war. sell them stocks in exactly the right companies, shuffle a little paper and bingo. these guys, even haliburton had to do something, but family comes first. ok he did make 500 million profit but i can only suspect the rest....................

    Posted by jimharris at 03/28/2007 @ 6:39pm

49. Novak, the douchebag of liberty, claims Bush will not give Libby a pardon. Why this might be true is unknown. Think mob family. It business, it's personal. If true, will Libby decide to cop before his June 5 sentencing hearing? It's seems Bush's loyalty may just be a one way street. How much longer does Bush stand behind Abu Gonzalez? ANSWER: Until he knows the US Attorney firings will not lead to Rove.

    Posted by NeilSagan at 03/28/2007 @ 6:54pm

50. Your president is surrounded by the most corrupt group of individuals EVER!!!

    Posted by CRABWALK 03/28/2007 @ 08:40am

    ------------------------

    Yes, but ONLY when he enters the Halls of Congress! They are more properly called Demoncrats who are holding power now by probably the most miniscule electorial margins in U.S.A. recorded history! They have not far nor long to fall from that position again as they concentrate on their special brand of partison politics.

    Posted by RIO BRAVO 03/28/2007 @ 12:56pm |

    Lets see,

    Steven Griles, admitted to lying to the Senate, yet to be sentenced. Guilty.

    * Scooter Libby - Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff - resigned after being indicted for Obstruction of Justice, Perjury, and Making False Statements in connection with the investigation stemming from the leak of a CIA operative's identity. Guilty!

    * Lester Crawford - Commissioner, FDA - resigned after only two months on the job. Pled guilty to conflict of interest and making false statements.

    * Brian Doyle - Deputy Press Secretary, DHS - Resigned in wake of child sex scandal. Pled no contest to 32 criminal counts. Guilty

    * Claude Allen - Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy- resigned, pled guilty to shoplifting from Target stores.

    * David Safavian - former head of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy at the Office of Management and Budget - convicted of lying to ethics officials and Senate investigators about his ties to lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Guilty

    * Larry Franklin - intelligence officer, Defense - resigned, pled guilty to passing secrets to Israel.

    * Roger Stillwell - desk officer, Interior Department - pled guilty to failing to report Redskins tickets and free dinners from Jack Abramoff.

    * Frank Figueroa - senior DHS official, former head of anti-sex-crime Operation Predator - pled no contest to exposing himself to 16-year-old girl in Florida mall. Girl says he fondled himself for ten minutes. Figueroa forfeited his badge, gun, and access to databases; employment status pending internal DHS review. Guilty

    * Darleen Druyun - senior contracting official, U.S. Air Force - pled guilty and sentenced to nine months in prison for her role in the Boeing tanker lease scandal.

    * John Korsmo - chairman, Federal Housing Finance Board - pled guilty last year to lying to the Senate and an inspector general. He swore he had no idea how a list of presidents for FHFB-regulated banks were invited to a fundraiser for his friend's congressional campaign. On the invites, Korsmo was listed as the "Special Guest." Got 18 months of probation.

    * P. Trey Sunderland III - chief, Geriatric Psychiatry, Nat'l Institute of Mental Health - admitted to a criminal conflict of interest charge for failing to report $300,000 received from Pfizer, Inc. *As of 12/11/06, still employed by NIMH.

    ====What-chu got RioPollo? show me the convictions. I am no fan of the dems, but you have to back your words up with some facts. You got Berger. You are loud mouth Nationalist coward with no facts on your side. You come here and spread lies about people, make stuff up, accept zero blame for your actions or that of the people you vote for. you are a joke.

    My bet is Jefferson is rolling over and barking in an attempt to keep himself out of the republican cell block. Lots of company in there. Just think RIO, you support the most corrupt admin in decades. I don't think even Nixon had as many convicted. Reagan had a whole cell block too, til Daddy Bush pardoned 1/2 of the convicted felons. Thats your party.

    Go away till you get some perspective. Enlist, back up your tough words.

    coward.

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/28/2007 @ 7:41pm

51. NUCLEAR WAR IMMINENT – BEGINS FRIDAY

    You don't know what you don't know.

    The STORY about British Sailors held captive by IRAN is a LIE. Remember the LIE about Israeli soldiers held captive by Lebanon to justify Israel's raping of Lebanon? Same game, different name. It's all BULLSHIT!

    Think WAY outside the box.

    Ahmadinejad works for Israel, they INSTALLED HIM the same way they installed Bush in the US. That's why every word Iran's leader says and every move he makes appears to be provocative toward Israel and the US. He's no mad man…he's a tool of Israel and US. He says and does precisely what we tell him to do – in order to present the APPEARANCE that we are somehow justified in launching an OFFENSIVE NUCLEAR STRIKE AGAINST IRAN ON FRIDAY.

    WAKE THE FUCK UP!!!!!!!!!!!

    World War III Starts on Friday – unless PATRIOTS ARREST CHENEY RIGHT NOW.

    If the military Generals and Admirals want war, there will be more war than they ever imagined. If they choose to uphold their oath and defend the Constitution, they've got 36 hours to make a difference.

    Time is up. World War III starts Friday – and it will coincide with conditions inside the US that lead to Martial Law, through either an Anthrax attack or a phony Bird Flu Outbreak. They are doing this to SAVE THEIR OWN HIDES from the imminent disclosure of their own criminality, including their direct role in 9/11 to serve as the pretext for everything that has resulted.

    STOP THEM!

    TODAY!

    Posted by plunger at 03/28/2007 @ 7:46pm

52. ...we can agree on something. I think investigation into this circumstances is what most are asking for here.

    Posted by HMAN23 03/28/2007 @ 6:08pm | ignore this person

    Great! Lest forgotten, my first (real) comment on this thread did NOT take the stance that an investigation of MZM was unwarranted. Bribery w/money changing hands is probably the most common white collar crimes, in or out of Gov't.....But you know, Congress/Senate does the exact same thing; except it's legal and it's called backroom dealings....my pork for your bacon!

    CRAB & LIBERTY's respective posts (well done both!) ought to give thinking persons pause as to the reality of corruption. I'll bet the exposed cases, regardless of admin. or time frame, are just little tips of uncountable icebergs.

    Think about this: with a $2.9 Trillion Fed budget and 535 Reps. & Senators, each one averages over $5 Billion worth of (mostly my and other top 20%ers) tax money to play with! I don't know about you, if I had $5 Billion to dole out year after year for decades, I am not at all sure I could stay `pure'.

    Going after run-of-the-mill briberies ought to be non-partisan but unfortunately, it isn't! The Dems, allegedly champion of the little people, always have been better `squawkers'. Case in point, read the comments on The Nation!

    the Dems were handed an opportunity to do the right thing, at a minimum, put William Jefferson, Democrat from Louisianna...into a harmelss corner of Congress. Instead, he was first slotted to `rise' onto the highly sensitive Security Subcommittee! I can't say he is guilty but I can opine that he ain't too bright and probably can be bought both easily and cheaply!

    Posted by Happy at 03/28/2007 @ 9:42pm

53. Happy -

    Perhaps, I was too quick to lump you some others and read something into your earlier posts that were not there.

    My apologies.

    Sincerely.

    Posted by Hman23 at 03/28/2007 @ 11:16pm

54. Scandals, scandals, ... Dubya's doing fine he's got alibi. And Rove's fingerprint is everywhere, from Plame to US Attys firing to Abramoff. That is what you get from a college drop-out turned political operative turned prez brain.

    Posted by HelenDAO at 03/29/2007 @ 06:09am

55. Posted by LVLIBERTY1 03/28/2007 @ 8:00pm

    there ya go!! Only took you guys 2 months to get your comeback.

    But, as I look through your list, they are mostly decades old. I am surprised you left out Chapequidick (?sp), that 30 year old story.

    RIO's comment was that right now, today, the dem congress had more felons than chimpies admin.

    to wit: Your president is surrounded by the most corrupt group of individuals EVER!!!

    Posted by CRABWALK 03/28/2007 @ 08:40am

    ------------------------

    Yes, but ONLY when he enters the Halls of Congress!- RIO 03/28/2007 @ 12:56pm

    Thanks for proving him wrong. And once again, Rio is incapable of backing up his own words, like Chimpy, someone came to his rescue.

    (especially when it comes to distortions like those put out by Crabwalk and others)LUVSDESPOTS

    What distortions?

    Today: President Bush met at the White House this week with a Russian general who has been accused of overseeing some of the most notorious atrocities against civilians during the brutal second war in Chechnya.

    "Russian troops under Shamanov rampaged through the village of Alkhan-Yurt in December 1999, killing 17 civilians, according to human rights investigations. The soldiers looted homes and shot those who got in the way, including a woman over 100 years old. Shamanov threatened to shoot villagers who pleaded with him to halt the "cleansing operation," investigators found. Rather than prosecute, the Kremlin gave Shamanov a medal -- a medal he appeared to wear to the Oval Office"

    "The European Court of Human Rights also has found Shamanov's troops responsible for the "massive use of indiscriminate weapons" that killed civilians in another village, and human rights investigators concluded that detainees at a base under his command were beaten, subjected to electric shocks and held in pits."-WAPO today.

    your allies, Luvvy. nice people your pres hangs with.

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/29/2007 @ 08:35am

56. Duopoly of corruption is what we have in this country. But, the repubs were going to change that. We must keep that in mind. Chimpy was going to restore credibility, he is a good Christian man that was going to run things different. People were going to be held responsible for their actions. Do any of you neo-cons remember those campaign promises? the repubs were more moral than the rest of them, straight talkers.

    Like the wmd's in iraq, they were pure bs, lies. Paid shills, gay male prostitutes as the easy call-on, political hacks hired to run Iraq, political hacks changing science when it does not fit the politics, CIA agent outed, illegal wiretaps, kidnappings.

    that is the Bush legacy, not a credible White House. Oh, and 2 failed wars.

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/29/2007 @ 08:43am

57. I'd like to point out that Crab's list contains ONLY administration officials. Liberty's list is far less restrictive, to the point of listing a mere Senatorial primary CANDIDATE.

    Apples to oranges.

    Posted by Balrog at 03/29/2007 @ 10:18am

58. ....I was too quick to lump you some others and read something into your earlier posts that were not there.

    My apologies.

    Sincerely.

    Posted by An Officer and Gentleman 03/28/2007

    Posted by Happy at 03/29/2007 @ 11:10am

59. David just posted this at his blog (davidcorn.com) where Fred Thompson slapped him!!!

    March 29, 2007 Bush and Rove Laugh It Up/Yoko Ono in DC

    Last night was the annual Radio and Television Correspondents Association Dinner...

    The evening was weird....

    OH, YOKO. My wife, Welmoed Laanstra, and her partner-in-public-art, Nora Halpern, have a new project starting in a few days.....

    Posted by David Corn at 11:12 AM

    Posted by Happy at 03/29/2007 @ 11:28am

60. I wish all the Democratic Congressmen would strive to be more like Henry Waxman...I am thrilled he is who he is and Democratic to boot...things are looking up...a little hope for us, down here in the trenches

    Posted by Chabuka at 03/29/2007 @ 2:28pm

61. You know, the tragic thing about William Jefferson is that he actually thought that the fridge in the office in the US Capitol building was a safe place to hide his life savings.

    Little did he know the stealing (along with lying and cheating) is a core component of the conservative agenda

    Posted by Will C. at 03/29/2007 @ 11:24pm

62. Posted by RIO BRAVO 03/30/2007 @ 01:19am

    RIO, back your words up. Stop spreading lies. I know it is the way of your heroes, but it is bad, wrong, uncool, a sin.

    enlist.

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/30/2007 @ 10:04am

63. It sure seems like Gonzo is a liar amongst liars. according to his former Chief of Staff, not the "left".

    why do the neo-cons insist on defending liars every day here? could it be that they are ideologues with absolutely zero patriotism, only adherence to a spent and failed policy?

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/30/2007 @ 10:12am

64. Since Kyle Sampson believes That US Attorney Lamb failed to prosecute aggressively, I wonder how he would feel if the Waxman oversight committee hired Lamb as it chief counsel.

    Posted by sgerace at 03/30/2007 @ 7:46pm

65. Since Kyle Sampson believes That US Attorney Lamb failed to prosecute aggressively, I wonder how he would feel if the Waxman oversight committee hired Lamb as it chief counsel. Posted by SGERACE 03/30/2007 @ 7:46pm |

    Kyle Sampson, who was Abu Gonzalez' former Chief of Staff, testified to Congress that it was his idea to fire Patrick Fitzgerald. Fitz did not remain on the termination list very long.

    Sampson also testified he believes it was a mistake to have fired Iglesias and if he could have a do over, he would recommend against terminating Iglesias.

    Finally, Sampson testified that Gonzalez was involved in discussions about the terminations of US Attorneys contrary to Gonzalez' testimony under oath to Congress.

    Gonzalez never understood the difference between being the enabler for W and being the chief law enforcement officer in the USA. He will not survive the scrutiny.

    The bigger part of this story is the placement of Rove's protegees from the RNC opposition research team into senior positions at the DOJ and US Attorney in Arkansas. Rove wanted a loyal Republican with subpoena power and authority to marshall FBI resources to dig up dirt on Clinton in preparation for the 2008 election.

    Monica "Take 5" Goodling may have been asking DOJ and US Attorney candidates to take a Bush loyalty oath in violation of the Hatch Act.

    Isn't it sad people like Happy think corruption is predictable if not acceptable because our representatives and senators have such as large budget to appropriate? Do you think he tells his boy scouts its ok to steal 10% of funds they handle when they go to the store to pick up the milk for mom, or when collecting payments on their paper routes?

    Posted by NeilSagan at 04/02/2007 @ 11:35pm