The Scandal Sheet
By Peter Dizikes
Salon.com
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/01/18/scandal/index_np.html
(includes funny pic of our collective hero destroying the evidence)
Once upon a time - about five years ago - conservative pundits
often talked about "scandal fatigue." Remember scandal fatigue? It was
an affliction supposedly either turning voters against Democrats or,
alternatively, a weariness in the body politic preventing Republicans
from pursuing even more grievances against Bill Clinton. By any
objective measure, however, after four years of George W. Bush's
presidency, the entire nation should be suffering from utter scandal
exhaustion.
Consider the raw materials of scandal that this administration has
produced: False claims about Iraq's supposed weapons of mass
destruction. Torture in Abu Ghraib. The virtually treasonous exposure of
a CIA agent by White House officials. And those are just the best-known
examples.
After all, how many citizens can name all the ongoing
investigations of Halliburton, Vice President ***** Cheney's old firm?
Who remembers that the administration illicitly diverted $700 million
from Afghanistan to Iraq? Or that, on Capitol Hill, Senate Republicans
stole strategy memos from Democrats, while a House Republican said he
was offered a bribe during a crucial vote? Even a conscientious citizen
cannot be expected to keep score, so Salon has compiled a list.
If the next four years of Bush and the GOP running the federal
government are anything like the previous four, however, potential
scandals will lead to few political consequences for the Republicans.
Bush opponents will likely be disappointed if they are waiting for a
renewal of the supposed "second-term scandal jinx" dogging Richard
Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Clinton.
After all, Washington Republicans are insulated by a rabidly
partisan Congress with no interest in investigating the executive branch
(and little taste for disciplining itself). By contrast, presidents
Nixon, Reagan and Clinton each faced an adversarial Congress. As the
late Senate Watergate Committee counsel Sam Dash noted in 2003 about
congressional oversight: "Although it worked then, it doesn't mean it
would work now."
Moreover, Congress allowed the independent-counsel statute, the law
that brought us Ken Starr, to expire as Bush assumed office. And the
right-wing media - cable news, talk radio, several newspapers - are not
about to replicate the drumbeat of scandal they pounded out while
Clinton held office. Thus scandals are not a defining part of the GOP's
current identity.
The Democrats, terminally cautious even in the minority, seem
unlikely to change this dynamic - although Harry Reid, the Democrats'
new Senate leader, has announced his party will hold monthly oversight
hearings, beginning this January, on "unasked and unanswered questions"
about the Bush administration. Reid's project, however, is an uphill
battle. The Democrats cannot compel anyone to testify, unlike standard
congressional committees, and memorable rhetoric is not a party
strength. "This is about honesty and accountability and reforming our
federal government," Reid said in the prepared statement the Democratic
Policy Committee released about its oversight plans.
Just think: Someone prepared that quote. To put it more bluntly
than Reid did: This is about the dozens of scandals occurring while the
Republican Party has enjoyed almost complete control over the federal
government. This is about the GOP's utter disrespect for the laws of the
United States. This is about stopping greed, bribery and
influence-peddling.
Indeed, here are 34 Republican scandals worthy of further
attention, gathered into one place. The list focuses on scandals
involving apparently illegal activity or violations of ethics codes. Not
everything that is politically, legally or ethically scandalous
constitutes a scandal. It is scandalous, for instance, that House
Republicans have further weakened their own ethics committee. But that
is not, properly speaking, a political scandal. It is just contemptible
governance.
This list is also limited to events of the past four years, or
those coming to light in that time. It covers both the executive branch
and the Congress, since the latter, especially the Senate, is
increasingly a mere adjunct to the White House. However, the items are
not arranged in terms of moral or historical gravity. Abu Ghraib might
create years of anti-American hatred abroad, but it and some other
headline-generating events appear near the end of the list, to help
familiarize readers first with lesser-known or now-overlooked scandals.
Recall how John Ashcroft broke the law? Know why ***** Cheney wants to
keep those energy task force documents secret? Read on. You too, Harry
Reid.
1. Memogate: The Senate Computer Theft
The scandal: From 2001 to 2003, Republican staffers on the Senate
Judiciary Committee illicitly accessed nearly 5,000 computer files
containing confidential Democratic strategy memos about President Bush's
judicial nominees. The GOP used the memos to shape their own plans and
leaked some to the media.
The problem: The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act states it is illegal to
obtain confidential information from a government computer.
The outcome: Unresolved. The Justice Department has assigned a
prosecutor to the case. The staff member at the heart of the matter,
Manuel Miranda, has attempted to brazen it out, filing suit in September
2004 against the DOJ to end the investigation. "A grand jury will indict
a ham sandwich," Miranda complained. Some jokes just write themselves.
2. Doctor Detroit: The DOJ's Bungled Terrorism Case
The scandal: The Department of Justice completely botched the nation's
first post-9/11 terrorism trial, as seen when the convictions of three
Detroit men allegedly linked to al-Qaida were overturned in September
2004. Former Attorney General John Ashcroft had claimed their June 2003
sentencing sent "a clear message" that the government would "detect,
disrupt and dismantle the activities of terrorist cells."
The problem: The DOJ's lead prosecutor in the case, Richard Convertino,
withheld key information from the defense and distorted supposed pieces
of evidence - like a Las Vegas vacation video purported to be a
surveillance tape. But that's not the half of it. Convertino says he was
unfairly scapegoated because he testified before the Senate, against DOJ
wishes, about terrorist financing. Justice's reconsideration of the case
began soon thereafter. Convertino has since sued the DOJ, which has also
placed him under investigation.
The outcome: Let's see: Overturned convictions, lawsuits and feuding
about a Kafkaesque case. Nobody looks good here.
3. Dark Matter: The Energy Task Force
The scandal: A lawsuit has claimed it is illegal for ***** Cheney to keep
the composition of his 2001 energy-policy task force secret. What's the
big deal? The New Yorker's Jane Mayer has suggested an explosive aspect
of the story, citing a National Security Council memo from February
2001, which "directed the N.S.C. staff to cooperate fully with the
Energy Task Force as it considered the 'melding' of ... 'operational
policies towards rogue states,' such as Iraq, and 'actions regarding the
capture of new and existing oil and gas fields.'" In short, the task
force's activities could shed light on the administration's pre-9/11
Iraq aims.
The problem: The Federal Advisory Committee Act says the government must
disclose the work of groups that include non-federal employees; the suit
claims energy industry executives were effectively task force members.
Oh, and the Bush administration has portrayed the Iraq war as a response
to 9/11, not something it was already considering.
The outcome: Unresolved. In June 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court sent the
case back to an appellate court.
4. The Indian Gaming Scandal
The scandal: Potential influence peddling to the tune of $82 million,
for starters. Jack Abramoff, a GOP lobbyist and major Bush fundraiser,
and Michael Scanlon, a former aide to Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), received
that amount from several Indian tribes, while offering access to
lawmakers. For instance, Texas' Tigua tribe, which wanted its closed El
Paso casino reopened, gave millions to the pair and $33,000 to Rep.
Robert Ney (R-Ohio) in hopes of favorable legislation (Ney came up
empty). And get this: The Tiguas were unaware that Abramoff, Scanlon and
conservative activist Ralph Reed had earned millions lobbying to have
the same casino shut in 2002.
The problem: Federal officials want to know if Abramoff and Scanlon
provided real services for the $82 million, and if they broke laws while
backing candidates in numerous Indian tribe elections.
The outcome: Everybody into the cesspool! The Senate Indian Affairs
Committee and five federal agencies, including the FBI, IRS, and Justice
Department, are investigating.
5. Halliburton's No-Bid Bonanza
The scandal: In February 2003, Halliburton received a five-year, $7
billion no-bid contract for services in Iraq.
The problem: The Army Corps of Engineers' top contracting officer,
Bunnatine Greenhouse, objected to the deal, saying the contract should
be the standard one-year length, and that a Halliburton official should
not have been present during the discussions.
The outcome: The FBI is investigating. The $7 billion contract was
halved and Halliburton won one of the parts in a public bid. For her
troubles, Greenhouse has been forced into whistle-blower protection.
6. Halliburton: Pumping Up Prices
The scandal: In 2003, Halliburton overcharged the army for fuel in Iraq.
Specifically, Halliburton's subsidiary Kellogg, Brown & Root hired a
Kuwaiti company, Altanmia, to supply fuel at about twice the going rate,
then added a markup, for an overcharge of at least $61 million,
according to a December 2003 Pentagon audit.
The problem: That's not the government's $61 million, it's our $61 million.
The outcome: The FBI is investigating.
7. Halliburton's Vanishing Iraq Money
The scandal: In mid-2004, Pentagon auditors determined that $1.8 billion
of Halliburton's charges to the government, about 40 percent of the
total, had not been adequately documented.
The problem: That's not the government's $1.8 billion, it's our $1.8
billion.
The outcome: The Defense Contract Audit Agency has "strongly" asked the
Army to withhold about $60 million a month from its Halliburton payments
until the documentation is provided.
8. The Halliburton Bribe-Apalooza
The scandal: This may not surprise you, but an international consortium
of companies, including Halliburton, is alleged to have paid more than
$100 million in bribes to Nigerian officials, from 1995 to 2002, to
facilitate a natural-gas-plant deal. (Cheney was Halliburton's CEO from
1995 to 2000.)
The problem: The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits U.S. companies
from bribing foreign officials.
The outcome: A veritable coalition of the willing is investigating the
deal, including the Justice Department, the SEC, the Nigerian government
and a French magistrate. In June, Halliburton fired two implicated
executives.
9. Halliburton: One Fine Company
The scandal: In 1998 and 1999, Halliburton counted money recovered from
project overruns as revenue, before settling the charges with clients.
The problem: Doing so made the company's income appear larger, but
Halliburton did not explain this to investors. The SEC ruled this
accounting practice was "materially misleading."
The outcome: In August 2004, Halliburton agreed to pay a $7.5 million
fine to settle SEC charges. One Halliburton executive has paid a fine
and another is settling civil charges. Now imagine the right-wing
rhetoric if, say, Al Gore had once headed a firm fined for fudging
income statements.
10. Halliburton's Iran End Run
The scandal: Halliburton may have been doing business with Iran while
Cheney was CEO.
The problem: Federal sanctions have banned U.S. companies from dealing
directly with Iran. To operate in Iran legally, U.S. companies have been
required to set up independent subsidiaries registered abroad.
Halliburton thus set up a new entity, Halliburton Products and Services
Ltd., to do business in Iran, but while the subsidiary was registered in
the Cayman Islands, it may not have had operations totally independent
of the parent company.
The outcome: Unresolved. The Treasury Department has referred the case
to the U.S. attorney in Houston, who convened a grand jury in July 2004.
11. Money Order: Afghanistan's Missing $700 Million Turns Up in Iraq
The scandal: According to Bob Woodward's "Plan of Attack," the Bush
administration diverted $700 million in funds from the war in
Afghanistan, among other places, to prepare for the Iraq invasion.
The problem: Article I, Section 8, Clause 12 of the U.S. Constitution
specifically gives Congress the power "to raise and support armies." And
the emergency spending bill passed after Sept. 11, 2001, requires the
administration to notify Congress before changing war spending plans.
That did not happen.
The outcome: Congress declined to investigate. The administration's main
justification for its decision has been to claim the funds were still
used for, one might say, Middle East anti-tyrant-related program
activities.
12. Iraq: More Loose Change
The scandal: The inspector general of the Coalition Provisional
Authority in Iraq released a series of reports in July 2004 finding that
a significant portion of CPA assets had gone missing - 34 percent of the
materiel controlled by Kellogg, Brown & Root - and that the CPA's method
of disbursing $600 million in Iraq reconstruction funds "did not
establish effective controls and left accountability open to fraud,
waste and abuse."
The problem: As much as $50 million of that money was disbursed without
proper receipts.
The outcome: The CPA has disbanded, but individual government
investigations into the handling of Iraq's reconstruction continue.
13. The Pentagon-Israel Spy Case
The scandal: A Pentagon official, Larry Franklin, may have passed
classified United States documents about Iran to Israel, possibly via
the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a Washington lobbying group.
The problem: To do so could be espionage or could constitute the
mishandling of classified documents.
The outcome: A grand jury is investigating. In December 2004, the FBI
searched AIPAC's offices. A Senate committee has also been investigating
the apparently unauthorized activities of the Near East and South Asia
Affairs group in the Pentagon, where Franklin works.
14. Gone to Taiwan
The scandal: Missed this one? A high-ranking State Department official,
Donald Keyser, was arrested and charged in September with making a
secret trip to Taiwan and was observed by the FBI passing documents to
Taiwanese intelligence agents in Washington-area meetings.
The problem: Such unauthorized trips are illegal. And we don't have
diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
The outcome: The case is in the courts.
15. Wiretapping the United Nations
The scandal: Before the United Nations' vote on the Iraq war, the United
States and Great Britain developed an eavesdropping operation targeting
diplomats from several countries.
The problem: U.N. officials say the practice is illegal and undermines
honest diplomacy, although some observers claim it is business as usual
on East 42nd Street.
The outcome: Little fuss here, but a major British scandal erupted after
U.K. intelligence translator Katherine Gun leaked a U.S. National
Security Agency memo requesting British help in the spying scheme, in
early 2003. Initially charged under Britain's Official Secrets Act for
leaking classified information, Gun was cleared in 2004 - seemingly to
avoid hearings questioning the legality of Britain's war participation.
16. The Boeing Boondoggle
The scandal: In 2003, the Air Force contracted with Boeing to lease a
fleet of refueling tanker planes at an inflated price: $23 billion.
The problem: The deal was put together by a government procurement
official, Darleen Druyun, who promptly joined Boeing. Beats using a
headhunter.
The outcome: In November 2003, Boeing fired both Druyun and CFO Michael
Sears. In April 2004, Druyun pled guilty to a conspiracy charge in the
case. In November 2004, Sears copped to a conflict-of-interest charge,
and company CEO Phil Condit resigned. The government is reviewing its
need for the tankers.
17. The Medicare Bribe Scandal
The scandal: According to former Rep. Nick Smith (R-Mich.), on Nov. 21,
2003, with the vote on the administration's Medicare bill hanging in the
balance, someone offered to contribute $100,000 to his son's forthcoming
congressional campaign, if Smith would support the bill.
The problem: Federal law prohibits the bribery of elected officials.
The outcome: In September 2004, the House Ethics Committee concluded an
inquiry by fingering House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), saying
he deserved "public admonishment" for offering to endorse Smith's son in
return for Smith's vote. DeLay has claimed Smith initiated talks about a
quid pro quo. The matter of the $100,000 is unresolved; soon after his
original allegations, Smith suddenly claimed he had not been offered any
money. Smith's son Brad lost his GOP primary in August 2004.
18. Tom DeLay's PAC Problems
The scandal: One of DeLay's political action committees, Texans for a
Republican Majority, apparently reaped illegal corporate contributions
for the campaigns of Republicans running for the Texas Legislature in
2002. Given a Republican majority, the Legislature then re-drew Texas'
U.S. congressional districts to help the GOP.
The problem: Texas law bans the use of corporate money for political
purposes.
The outcome: Unresolved. Three DeLay aides and associates - Jim Ellis,
John Colyandro and Warren RoBold - were charged in September 2004 with
crimes including money laundering and unlawful acceptance of corporate
contributions.
19. Tom DeLay's FAA: Following Americans Anywhere
The scandal: In May 2003, DeLay's office persuaded the Federal Aviation
Administration to find the plane carrying a Texas Democratic legislator,
who was leaving the state in an attempt to thwart the GOP's nearly
unprecedented congressional redistricting plan.
The problem: According to the House Ethics Committee, the "invocation of
federal executive branch resources in a partisan dispute before a state
legislative body" is wrong.
The outcome: In October 2004, the committee rebuked DeLay for his actions.
20. In the Rough: Tom DeLay's Golf Fundraiser
The scandal: DeLay appeared at a golf fundraiser that Westar Energy held
for one of his political action committees, Americans for a Republican
Majority, while energy legislation was pending in the House.
The problem: It's one of these "appearance of impropriety" situations.
The outcome: The House Ethics Committee tossed the matter into its Oct.
6 rebuke. "Take a lap, Tom."
21. Busy, Busy, Busy in New Hampshire
The scandal: In 2002, with a tight Senate race in New Hampshire,
Republican Party officials paid a Virginia-based firm, GOP Marketplace,
to enact an Election Day scheme meant to depress Democratic turnout by
"jamming" the Democratic Party phone bank with continuous calls for 90
minutes.
The problem: Federal law prohibits the use of telephones to "annoy or
harass" anyone.
The outcome: Chuck McGee, the former executive director of the New
Hampshire GOP, pleaded guilty in July 2004 to a felony charge, while
Allen Raymond, former head of GOP Marketplace, pleaded guilty to a
similar charge in June. In December, James Tobin, former New England
campaign chairman of Bush-Cheney '04, was indicted for conspiracy in the
case.
22. The Medicare Money Scandal
The scandal: Thomas Scully, Medicare's former administrator, supposedly
threatened to fire chief Medicare actuary Richard Foster to prevent him
from disclosing the true cost of the 2003 Medicare bill.
The problem: Congress voted on the bill believing it would cost $400
billion over 10 years. The program is more likely to cost $550 billion.
The outcome: Scully denies threatening to fire Foster, as Foster has
charged, but admits telling Foster to withhold the higher estimate from
Congress. In September 2004, the Government Accountability Office
recommended Scully return half his salary from 2003. Inevitably, Scully
is now a lobbyist for drug companies helped by the bill.
23. The Bogus Medicare "Video News Release"
The scandal: To promote its Medicare bill, the Bush administration
produced imitation news-report videos touting the legislation. About 40
television stations aired the videos. More recently, similar videos
promoting the administration's education policy have come to light.
The problem: The administration broke two laws: One forbidding the use
of federal money for propaganda, and another forbidding the unauthorized
use of federal funds.
The outcome: In May 2004, the GAO concluded the administration acted
illegally, but the agency lacks enforcement power.
24. Pundits on the Payroll: The Armstrong Williams Case
The scandal: The Department of Education paid conservative commentator
Armstrong Williams $240,000 to promote its educational law, No Child
Left Behind.
The problem: Williams did not disclose that his support was government
funded until the deal was exposed in January 2005.
The outcome: The House and FCC are considering inquiries, while
Williams' syndicated newspaper column has been terminated.
25. Ground Zero's Unsafe Air
The scandal: Government officials publicly minimized the health risks
stemming from the World Trade Center attack. In September 2001, for
example, Environmental Protection Agency head Christine Todd Whitman
said New York's "air is safe to breathe and [the] water is safe to drink."
The problem: Research showed serious dangers or was incomplete. The EPA
used outdated techniques that failed to detect tiny asbestos particles.
EPA data also showed high levels of lead and benzene, which causes
cancer. A Sierra Club report claims the government ignored alarming
data. A GAO report says no adequate study of 9/11's health effects has
been organized.
The outcome: The long-term health effects of the disaster will likely
not be apparent for years or decades and may never be definitively
known. Already, hundreds of 9/11 rescue workers have quit their jobs
because of acute illnesses.
26. John Ashcroft's Illegal Campaign Contributions
The scandal: Ashcroft's exploratory committee for his short-lived 2000
presidential bid transferred $110,000 to his unsuccessful 2000
reelection campaign for the Senate.
The problem: The maximum for such a transfer is $10,000.
The outcome: The Federal Election Commission fined Ashcroft's campaign
treasurer, Garrett Lott, $37,000 for the transgression.
27. Intel Inside ... The White House
The scandal: In early 2001, chief White House political strategist Karl
Rove held meetings with numerous companies while maintaining six-figure
holdings of their stock - including Intel, whose executives were seeking
government approval of a merger. "Washington hadn't seen a clearer
example of a conflict of interest in years," wrote Paul Glastris in the
Washington Monthly.
The problem: The Code of Federal Regulations says government employees
should not participate in matters in which they have a personal
financial interest.
The outcome: Then White House counsel Alberto Gonzales, spurning
precedent, did not refer the case to the Justice Department.
28. Duck! Antonin Scalia's Legal Conflicts
The scandal: Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia refused to recuse
himself from the Cheney energy task force case, despite taking a
duck-hunting trip with the vice president after the court agreed to
weigh the matter.
The problem: Federal law requires a justice to "disqualify himself from
any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned."
The outcome: Scalia stayed on, arguing no conflict existed because
Cheney was party to the case in a professional, not personal, capacity.
Nothing new for Scalia, who in 2002 was part of a Mississippi
redistricting ruling favorable to GOP Rep. Chip Pickering - son of Judge
Charles Pickering, a Scalia turkey-hunting pal. In 2001, Scalia went
pheasant hunting with Kansas Gov. Bill Graves when that state had cases
pending before the Supreme Court.
29. AWOL
The scandal: George W. Bush, self-described "war president," did not
fulfill his National Guard duty, and Bush and his aides have made
misleading statements about it. Salon's Eric Boehlert wrote the best
recent summary of the issue.
The problem: Military absenteeism is a punishable offense, although Bush
received an honorable discharge.
The outcome: No longer a campaign issue. But what was Bush doing in 1972?
30. Iraq: The Case for War
The scandal: Bush and many officials in his administration made false
statements about Iraq's military capabilities, in the months before the
United States' March 2003 invasion of the country.
The problem: For one thing, it is a crime to lie to Congress, although
Bush backers claim the president did not knowingly make false assertions.
The outcome: A war spun out of control with unknowable long-term
consequences. The Iraq Survey Group has stopped looking for weapons of
mass destruction in Iraq.
31. Niger Forgeries: Whodunit?
The scandal: In his January 2003 State of the Union address, Bush said,
"The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought
significant quantities of uranium from Africa."
The problem: The statement was untrue. By March 2003, the International
Atomic Energy Agency showed the claim, that Iraq sought materials from
Niger, was based on easily discernible forgeries.
The outcome: The identity of the forger(s) remains under wraps.
Journalist Josh Marshall has implied the FBI is oddly uninterested in
interviewing Rocco Martino, the former Italian intelligence agent who
apparently first shopped the documents in intelligence and journalistic
circles and would presumably be able to shed light on their origin.
32. In Plame Sight
The scandal: In July 2003, administration officials disclosed the
identity of Valerie Plame, a CIA operative working on counterterrorism
efforts, to multiple journalists, and columnist Robert Novak made
Plame's identity public. Plame's husband, former Ambassador Joseph
Wilson, had just written a New York Times opinion piece stating he had
investigated the Niger uranium-production allegations, at the CIA's
behest, and reported them to be untrue, before Bush's 2003 State of the
Union address.
The problem: Under the Intelligence Identities Protection Act it is
illegal to disclose, knowingly, the name of an undercover agent.
The outcome: Unresolved. The Justice Department appointed special
prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald to the case in December 2003. While this
might seem a simple matter, Fitzgerald could be unable to prove the
leakers knew Plame was a covert agent.
33. Abu Ghraib
The scandal: American soldiers physically tortured prisoners in Iraq and
kept undocumented "ghost detainees" in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
The problem: The United States is party to the Geneva Conventions, which
state that "No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of
coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them
information of any kind whatever."
The outcome: Unresolved. A Pentagon internal inquiry found a lack of
oversight at Abu Ghraib, while independent inquiries have linked the
events to the administration's desire to use aggressive interrogation
methods globally. Notoriously, Gonzales has advocated an approach which
"renders obsolete Geneva's strict limitations on questioning of enemy
prisoners and renders quaint some of its provisions." More recently,
Gonzales issued qualified support for the Geneva Conventions in January
2005 Senate testimony after being nominated for attorney general. Army
reservist Charles Graner was convicted in January 2005 for abusing
prisoners, while a few other soldiers await trial.
34. Guantánamo Bay Torture?
The scandal: The U.S. military is also alleged to have abused prisoners
at the U.S. Navy's base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. FBI agents witnessing
interrogations there have reported use of growling dogs to frighten
prisoners and the chaining of prisoners in the fetal position while
depriving them of food or water for extended periods.
The problem: More potential violations of the Geneva Conventions.
The outcome: An internal military investigation was launched in January
2005.
Also funny pic of our collective hero:
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/01/18/scandal/index_np.html
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| User: "TaDa Pope" |
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| Title: Re: The 34 Scandals of George W. Bush |
24 Jan 2005 11:40:33 PM |
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Subject: The 34 Scandals of George W. Bush
From: MonsieurStat
Date: 1/24/2005 9:06 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id: <rtkJd.1655$Yg6.492613@news20.bellglobal.com>
The Scandal Sheet
By Peter Dizikes
Salon.com
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/01/18/scandal/index_np.html
(includes funny pic of our collective hero destroying the evidence)
Once upon a time - about five years ago - conservative pundits
often talked about "scandal fatigue." Remember scandal fatigue? It was
an affliction supposedly either turning voters against Democrats or,
alternatively, a weariness in the body politic preventing Republicans
from pursuing even more grievances against Bill Clinton. By any
objective measure, however, after four years of George W. Bush's
presidency, the entire nation should be suffering from utter scandal
exhaustion.
Consider the raw materials of scandal that this administration has
produced: False claims about Iraq's supposed weapons of mass
destruction. Torture in Abu Ghraib. The virtually treasonous exposure of
a CIA agent by White House officials. And those are just the best-known
examples.
After all, how many citizens can name all the ongoing
investigations of Halliburton, Vice President ***** Cheney's old firm?
Who remembers that the administration illicitly diverted $700 million
from Afghanistan to Iraq? Or that, on Capitol Hill, Senate Republicans
stole strategy memos from Democrats, while a House Republican said he
was offered a bribe during a crucial vote? Even a conscientious citizen
cannot be expected to keep score, so Salon has compiled a list.
If the next four years of Bush and the GOP running the federal
government are anything like the previous four, however, potential
scandals will lead to few political consequences for the Republicans.
Bush opponents will likely be disappointed if they are waiting for a
renewal of the supposed "second-term scandal jinx" dogging Richard
Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Clinton.
After all, Washington Republicans are insulated by a rabidly
partisan Congress with no interest in investigating the executive branch
(and little taste for disciplining itself). By contrast, presidents
Nixon, Reagan and Clinton each faced an adversarial Congress. As the
late Senate Watergate Committee counsel Sam Dash noted in 2003 about
congressional oversight: "Although it worked then, it doesn't mean it
would work now."
Moreover, Congress allowed the independent-counsel statute, the law
that brought us Ken Starr, to expire as Bush assumed office. And the
right-wing media - cable news, talk radio, several newspapers - are not
about to replicate the drumbeat of scandal they pounded out while
Clinton held office. Thus scandals are not a defining part of the GOP's
current identity.
The Democrats, terminally cautious even in the minority, seem
unlikely to change this dynamic - although Harry Reid, the Democrats'
new Senate leader, has announced his party will hold monthly oversight
hearings, beginning this January, on "unasked and unanswered questions"
about the Bush administration. Reid's project, however, is an uphill
battle. The Democrats cannot compel anyone to testify, unlike standard
congressional committees, and memorable rhetoric is not a party
strength. "This is about honesty and accountability and reforming our
federal government," Reid said in the prepared statement the Democratic
Policy Committee released about its oversight plans.
Just think: Someone prepared that quote. To put it more bluntly
than Reid did: This is about the dozens of scandals occurring while the
Republican Party has enjoyed almost complete control over the federal
government. This is about the GOP's utter disrespect for the laws of the
United States. This is about stopping greed, bribery and
influence-peddling.
Indeed, here are 34 Republican scandals worthy of further
attention, gathered into one place. The list focuses on scandals
involving apparently illegal activity or violations of ethics codes. Not
everything that is politically, legally or ethically scandalous
constitutes a scandal. It is scandalous, for instance, that House
Republicans have further weakened their own ethics committee. But that
is not, properly speaking, a political scandal. It is just contemptible
governance.
This list is also limited to events of the past four years, or
those coming to light in that time. It covers both the executive branch
and the Congress, since the latter, especially the Senate, is
increasingly a mere adjunct to the White House. However, the items are
not arranged in terms of moral or historical gravity. Abu Ghraib might
create years of anti-American hatred abroad, but it and some other
headline-generating events appear near the end of the list, to help
familiarize readers first with lesser-known or now-overlooked scandals.
Recall how John Ashcroft broke the law? Know why ***** Cheney wants to
keep those energy task force documents secret? Read on. You too, Harry
Reid.
1. Memogate: The Senate Computer Theft
The scandal: From 2001 to 2003, Republican staffers on the Senate
Judiciary Committee illicitly accessed nearly 5,000 computer files
containing confidential Democratic strategy memos about President Bush's
judicial nominees. The GOP used the memos to shape their own plans and
leaked some to the media.
The problem: The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act states it is illegal to
obtain confidential information from a government computer.
The outcome: Unresolved. The Justice Department has assigned a
prosecutor to the case. The staff member at the heart of the matter,
Manuel Miranda, has attempted to brazen it out, filing suit in September
2004 against the DOJ to end the investigation. "A grand jury will indict
a ham sandwich," Miranda complained. Some jokes just write themselves.
2. Doctor Detroit: The DOJ's Bungled Terrorism Case
The scandal: The Department of Justice completely botched the nation's
first post-9/11 terrorism trial, as seen when the convictions of three
Detroit men allegedly linked to al-Qaida were overturned in September
2004. Former Attorney General John Ashcroft had claimed their June 2003
sentencing sent "a clear message" that the government would "detect,
disrupt and dismantle the activities of terrorist cells."
The problem: The DOJ's lead prosecutor in the case, Richard Convertino,
withheld key information from the defense and distorted supposed pieces
of evidence - like a Las Vegas vacation video purported to be a
surveillance tape. But that's not the half of it. Convertino says he was
unfairly scapegoated because he testified before the Senate, against DOJ
wishes, about terrorist financing. Justice's reconsideration of the case
began soon thereafter. Convertino has since sued the DOJ, which has also
placed him under investigation.
The outcome: Let's see: Overturned convictions, lawsuits and feuding
about a Kafkaesque case. Nobody looks good here.
3. Dark Matter: The Energy Task Force
The scandal: A lawsuit has claimed it is illegal for ***** Cheney to keep
the composition of his 2001 energy-policy task force secret. What's the
big deal? The New Yorker's Jane Mayer has suggested an explosive aspect
of the story, citing a National Security Council memo from February
2001, which "directed the N.S.C. staff to cooperate fully with the
Energy Task Force as it considered the 'melding' of ... 'operational
policies towards rogue states,' such as Iraq, and 'actions regarding the
capture of new and existing oil and gas fields.'" In short, the task
force's activities could shed light on the administration's pre-9/11
Iraq aims.
The problem: The Federal Advisory Committee Act says the government must
disclose the work of groups that include non-federal employees; the suit
claims energy industry executives were effectively task force members.
Oh, and the Bush administration has portrayed the Iraq war as a response
to 9/11, not something it was already considering.
The outcome: Unresolved. In June 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court sent the
case back to an appellate court.
4. The Indian Gaming Scandal
The scandal: Potential influence peddling to the tune of $82 million,
for starters. Jack Abramoff, a GOP lobbyist and major Bush fundraiser,
and Michael Scanlon, a former aide to Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), received
that amount from several Indian tribes, while offering access to
lawmakers. For instance, Texas' Tigua tribe, which wanted its closed El
Paso casino reopened, gave millions to the pair and $33,000 to Rep.
Robert Ney (R-Ohio) in hopes of favorable legislation (Ney came up
empty). And get this: The Tiguas were unaware that Abramoff, Scanlon and
conservative activist Ralph Reed had earned millions lobbying to have
the same casino shut in 2002.
The problem: Federal officials want to know if Abramoff and Scanlon
provided real services for the $82 million, and if they broke laws while
backing candidates in numerous Indian tribe elections.
The outcome: Everybody into the cesspool! The Senate Indian Affairs
Committee and five federal agencies, including the FBI, IRS, and Justice
Department, are investigating.
5. Halliburton's No-Bid Bonanza
The scandal: In February 2003, Halliburton received a five-year, $7
billion no-bid contract for services in Iraq.
The problem: The Army Corps of Engineers' top contracting officer,
Bunnatine Greenhouse, objected to the deal, saying the contract should
be the standard one-year length, and that a Halliburton official should
not have been present during the discussions.
The outcome: The FBI is investigating. The $7 billion contract was
halved and Halliburton won one of the parts in a public bid. For her
troubles, Greenhouse has been forced into whistle-blower protection.
6. Halliburton: Pumping Up Prices
The scandal: In 2003, Halliburton overcharged the army for fuel in Iraq.
Specifically, Halliburton's subsidiary Kellogg, Brown & Root hired a
Kuwaiti company, Altanmia, to supply fuel at about twice the going rate,
then added a markup, for an overcharge of at least $61 million,
according to a December 2003 Pentagon audit.
The problem: That's not the government's $61 million, it's our $61 million.
The outcome: The FBI is investigating.
7. Halliburton's Vanishing Iraq Money
The scandal: In mid-2004, Pentagon auditors determined that $1.8 billion
of Halliburton's charges to the government, about 40 percent of the
total, had not been adequately documented.
The problem: That's not the government's $1.8 billion, it's our $1.8
billion.
The outcome: The Defense Contract Audit Agency has "strongly" asked the
Army to withhold about $60 million a month from its Halliburton payments
until the documentation is provided.
8. The Halliburton Bribe-Apalooza
The scandal: This may not surprise you, but an international consortium
of companies, including Halliburton, is alleged to have paid more than
$100 million in bribes to Nigerian officials, from 1995 to 2002, to
facilitate a natural-gas-plant deal. (Cheney was Halliburton's CEO from
1995 to 2000.)
The problem: The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits U.S. companies
from bribing foreign officials.
The outcome: A veritable coalition of the willing is investigating the
deal, including the Justice Department, the SEC, the Nigerian government
and a French magistrate. In June, Halliburton fired two implicated
executives.
9. Halliburton: One Fine Company
The scandal: In 1998 and 1999, Halliburton counted money recovered from
project overruns as revenue, before settling the charges with clients.
The problem: Doing so made the company's income appear larger, but
Halliburton did not explain this to investors. The SEC ruled this
accounting practice was "materially misleading."
The outcome: In August 2004, Halliburton agreed to pay a $7.5 million
fine to settle SEC charges. One Halliburton executive has paid a fine
and another is settling civil charges. Now imagine the right-wing
rhetoric if, say, Al Gore had once headed a firm fined for fudging
income statements.
10. Halliburton's Iran End Run
The scandal: Halliburton may have been doing business with Iran while
Cheney was CEO.
The problem: Federal sanctions have banned U.S. companies from dealing
directly with Iran. To operate in Iran legally, U.S. companies have been
required to set up independent subsidiaries registered abroad.
Halliburton thus set up a new entity, Halliburton Products and Services
Ltd., to do business in Iran, but while the subsidiary was registered in
the Cayman Islands, it may not have had operations totally independent
of the parent company.
The outcome: Unresolved. The Treasury Department has referred the case
to the U.S. attorney in Houston, who convened a grand jury in July 2004.
11. Money Order: Afghanistan's Missing $700 Million Turns Up in Iraq
The scandal: According to Bob Woodward's "Plan of Attack," the Bush
administration diverted $700 million in funds from the war in
Afghanistan, among other places, to prepare for the Iraq invasion.
The problem: Article I, Section 8, Clause 12 of the U.S. Constitution
specifically gives Congress the power "to raise and support armies." And
the emergency spending bill passed after Sept. 11, 2001, requires the
administration to notify Congress before changing war spending plans.
That did not happen.
The outcome: Congress declined to investigate. The administration's main
justification for its decision has been to claim the funds were still
used for, one might say, Middle East anti-tyrant-related program
activities.
12. Iraq: More Loose Change
The scandal: The inspector general of the Coalition Provisional
Authority in Iraq released a series of reports in July 2004 finding that
a significant portion of CPA assets had gone missing - 34 percent of the
materiel controlled by Kellogg, Brown & Root - and that the CPA's method
of disbursing $600 million in Iraq reconstruction funds "did not
establish effective controls and left accountability open to fraud,
waste and abuse."
The problem: As much as $50 million of that money was disbursed without
proper receipts.
The outcome: The CPA has disbanded, but individual government
investigations into the handling of Iraq's reconstruction continue.
13. The Pentagon-Israel Spy Case
The scandal: A Pentagon official, Larry Franklin, may have passed
classified United States documents about Iran to Israel, possibly via
the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a Washington lobbying group.
The problem: To do so could be espionage or could constitute the
mishandling of classified documents.
The outcome: A grand jury is investigating. In December 2004, the FBI
searched AIPAC's offices. A Senate committee has also been investigating
the apparently unauthorized activities of the Near East and South Asia
Affairs group in the Pentagon, where Franklin works.
14. Gone to Taiwan
The scandal: Missed this one? A high-ranking State Department official,
Donald Keyser, was arrested and charged in September with making a
secret trip to Taiwan and was observed by the FBI passing documents to
Taiwanese intelligence agents in Washington-area meetings.
The problem: Such unauthorized trips are illegal. And we don't have
diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
The outcome: The case is in the courts.
15. Wiretapping the United Nations
The scandal: Before the United Nations' vote on the Iraq war, the United
States and Great Britain developed an eavesdropping operation targeting
diplomats from several countries.
The problem: U.N. officials say the practice is illegal and undermines
honest diplomacy, although some observers claim it is business as usual
on East 42nd Street.
The outcome: Little fuss here, but a major British scandal erupted after
U.K. intelligence translator Katherine Gun leaked a U.S. National
Security Agency memo requesting British help in the spying scheme, in
early 2003. Initially charged under Britain's Official Secrets Act for
leaking classified information, Gun was cleared in 2004 - seemingly to
avoid hearings questioning the legality of Britain's war participation.
16. The Boeing Boondoggle
The scandal: In 2003, the Air Force contracted with Boeing to lease a
fleet of refueling tanker planes at an inflated price: $23 billion.
The problem: The deal was put together by a government procurement
official, Darleen Druyun, who promptly joined Boeing. Beats using a
headhunter.
The outcome: In November 2003, Boeing fired both Druyun and CFO Michael
Sears. In April 2004, Druyun pled guilty to a conspiracy charge in the
case. In November 2004, Sears copped to a conflict-of-interest charge,
and company CEO Phil Condit resigned. The government is reviewing its
need for the tankers.
17. The Medicare Bribe Scandal
The scandal: According to former Rep. Nick Smith (R-Mich.), on Nov. 21,
2003, with the vote on the administration's Medicare bill hanging in the
balance, someone offered to contribute $100,000 to his son's forthcoming
congressional campaign, if Smith would support the bill.
The problem: Federal law prohibits the bribery of elected officials.
The outcome: In September 2004, the House Ethics Committee concluded an
inquiry by fingering House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), saying
he deserved "public admonishment" for offering to endorse Smith's son in
return for Smith's vote. DeLay has claimed Smith initiated talks about a
quid pro quo. The matter of the $100,000 is unresolved; soon after his
original allegations, Smith suddenly claimed he had not been offered any
money. Smith's son Brad lost his GOP primary in August 2004.
18. Tom DeLay's PAC Problems
The scandal: One of DeLay's political action committees, Texans for a
Republican Majority, apparently reaped illegal corporate contributions
for the campaigns of Republicans running for the Texas Legislature in
2002. Given a Republican majority, the Legislature then re-drew Texas'
U.S. congressional districts to help the GOP.
The problem: Texas law bans the use of corporate money for political
purposes.
The outcome: Unresolved. Three DeLay aides and associates - Jim Ellis,
John Colyandro and Warren RoBold - were charged in September 2004 with
crimes including money laundering and unlawful acceptance of corporate
contributions.
19. Tom DeLay's FAA: Following Americans Anywhere
The scandal: In May 2003, DeLay's office persuaded the Federal Aviation
Administration to find the plane carrying a Texas Democratic legislator,
who was leaving the state in an attempt to thwart the GOP's nearly
unprecedented congressional redistricting plan.
The problem: According to the House Ethics Committee, the "invocation of
federal executive branch resources in a partisan dispute before a state
legislative body" is wrong.
The outcome: In October 2004, the committee rebuked DeLay for his actions.
20. In the Rough: Tom DeLay's Golf Fundraiser
The scandal: DeLay appeared at a golf fundraiser that Westar Energy held
for one of his political action committees, Americans for a Republican
Majority, while energy legislation was pending in the House.
The problem: It's one of these "appearance of impropriety" situations.
The outcome: The House Ethics Committee tossed the matter into its Oct.
6 rebuke. "Take a lap, Tom."
21. Busy, Busy, Busy in New Hampshire
The scandal: In 2002, with a tight Senate race in New Hampshire,
Republican Party officials paid a Virginia-based firm, GOP Marketplace,
to enact an Election Day scheme meant to depress Democratic turnout by
"jamming" the Democratic Party phone bank with continuous calls for 90
minutes.
The problem: Federal law prohibits the use of telephones to "annoy or
harass" anyone.
The outcome: Chuck McGee, the former executive director of the New
Hampshire GOP, pleaded guilty in July 2004 to a felony charge, while
Allen Raymond, former head of GOP Marketplace, pleaded guilty to a
similar charge in June. In December, James Tobin, former New England
campaign chairman of Bush-Cheney '04, was indicted for conspiracy in the
case.
22. The Medicare Money Scandal
The scandal: Thomas Scully, Medicare's former administrator, supposedly
threatened to fire chief Medicare actuary Richard Foster to prevent him
from disclosing the true cost of the 2003 Medicare bill.
The problem: Congress voted on the bill believing it would cost $400
billion over 10 years. The program is more likely to cost $550 billion.
The outcome: Scully denies threatening to fire Foster, as Foster has
charged, but admits telling Foster to withhold the higher estimate from
Congress. In September 2004, the Government Accountability Office
recommended Scully return half his salary from 2003. Inevitably, Scully
is now a lobbyist for drug companies helped by the bill.
23. The Bogus Medicare "Video News Release"
The scandal: To promote its Medicare bill, the Bush administration
produced imitation news-report videos touting the legislation. About 40
television stations aired the videos. More recently, similar videos
promoting the administration's education policy have come to light.
The problem: The administration broke two laws: One forbidding the use
of federal money for propaganda, and another forbidding the unauthorized
use of federal funds.
The outcome: In May 2004, the GAO concluded the administration acted
illegally, but the agency lacks enforcement power.
24. Pundits on the Payroll: The Armstrong Williams Case
The scandal: The Department of Education paid conservative commentator
Armstrong Williams $240,000 to promote its educational law, No Child
Left Behind.
The problem: Williams did not disclose that his support was government
funded until the deal was exposed in January 2005.
The outcome: The House and FCC are considering inquiries, while
Williams' syndicated newspaper column has been terminated.
25. Ground Zero's Unsafe Air
The scandal: Government officials publicly minimized the health risks
stemming from the World Trade Center attack. In September 2001, for
example, Environmental Protection Agency head Christine Todd Whitman
said New York's "air is safe to breathe and [the] water is safe to drink."
The problem: Research showed serious dangers or was incomplete. The EPA
used outdated techniques that failed to detect tiny asbestos particles.
EPA data also showed high levels of lead and benzene, which causes
cancer. A Sierra Club report claims the government ignored alarming
data. A GAO report says no adequate study of 9/11's health effects has
been organized.
The outcome: The long-term health effects of the disaster will likely
not be apparent for years or decades and may never be definitively
known. Already, hundreds of 9/11 rescue workers have quit their jobs
because of acute illnesses.
26. John Ashcroft's Illegal Campaign Contributions
The scandal: Ashcroft's exploratory committee for his short-lived 2000
presidential bid transferred $110,000 to his unsuccessful 2000
reelection campaign for the Senate.
The problem: The maximum for such a transfer is $10,000.
The outcome: The Federal Election Commission fined Ashcroft's campaign
treasurer, Garrett Lott, $37,000 for the transgression.
27. Intel Inside ... The White House
The scandal: In early 2001, chief White House political strategist Karl
Rove held meetings with numerous companies while maintaining six-figure
holdings of their stock - including Intel, whose executives were seeking
government approval of a merger. "Washington hadn't seen a clearer
example of a conflict of interest in years," wrote Paul Glastris in the
Washington Monthly.
The problem: The Code of Federal Regulations says government employees
should not participate in matters in which they have a personal
financial interest.
The outcome: Then White House counsel Alberto Gonzales, spurning
precedent, did not refer the case to the Justice Department.
28. Duck! Antonin Scalia's Legal Conflicts
The scandal: Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia refused to recuse
himself from the Cheney energy task force case, despite taking a
duck-hunting trip with the vice president after the court agreed to
weigh the matter.
The problem: Federal law requires a justice to "disqualify himself from
any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned."
The outcome: Scalia stayed on, arguing no conflict existed because
Cheney was party to the case in a professional, not personal, capacity.
Nothing new for Scalia, who in 2002 was part of a Mississippi
redistricting ruling favorable to GOP Rep. Chip Pickering - son of Judge
Charles Pickering, a Scalia turkey-hunting pal. In 2001, Scalia went
pheasant hunting with Kansas Gov. Bill Graves when that state had cases
pending before the Supreme Court.
29. AWOL
The scandal: George W. Bush, self-described "war president," did not
fulfill his National Guard duty, and Bush and his aides have made
misleading statements about it. Salon's Eric Boehlert wrote the best
recent summary of the issue.
The problem: Military absenteeism is a punishable offense, although Bush
received an honorable discharge.
The outcome: No longer a campaign issue. But what was Bush doing in 1972?
30. Iraq: The Case for War
The scandal: Bush and many officials in his administration made false
statements about Iraq's military capabilities, in the months before the
United States' March 2003 invasion of the country.
The problem: For one thing, it is a crime to lie to Congress, although
Bush backers claim the president did not knowingly make false assertions.
The outcome: A war spun out of control with unknowable long-term
consequences. The Iraq Survey Group has stopped looking for weapons of
mass destruction in Iraq.
31. Niger Forgeries: Whodunit?
The scandal: In his January 2003 State of the Union address, Bush said,
"The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought
significant quantities of uranium from Africa."
The problem: The statement was untrue. By March 2003, the International
Atomic Energy Agency showed the claim, that Iraq sought materials from
Niger, was based on easily discernible forgeries.
The outcome: The identity of the forger(s) remains under wraps.
Journalist Josh Marshall has implied the FBI is oddly uninterested in
interviewing Rocco Martino, the former Italian intelligence agent who
apparently first shopped the documents in intelligence and journalistic
circles and would presumably be able to shed light on their origin.
32. In Plame Sight
The scandal: In July 2003, administration officials disclosed the
identity of Valerie Plame, a CIA operative working on counterterrorism
efforts, to multiple journalists, and columnist Robert Novak made
Plame's identity public. Plame's husband, former Ambassador Joseph
Wilson, had just written a New York Times opinion piece stating he had
investigated the Niger uranium-production allegations, at the CIA's
behest, and reported them to be untrue, before Bush's 2003 State of the
Union address.
The problem: Under the Intelligence Identities Protection Act it is
illegal to disclose, knowingly, the name of an undercover agent.
The outcome: Unresolved. The Justice Department appointed special
prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald to the case in December 2003. While this
might seem a simple matter, Fitzgerald could be unable to prove the
leakers knew Plame was a covert agent.
33. Abu Ghraib
The scandal: American soldiers physically tortured prisoners in Iraq and
kept undocumented "ghost detainees" in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
The problem: The United States is party to the Geneva Conventions, which
state that "No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of
coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them
information of any kind whatever."
The outcome: Unresolved. A Pentagon internal inquiry found a lack of
oversight at Abu Ghraib, while independent inquiries have linked the
events to the administration's desire to use aggressive interrogation
methods globally. Notoriously, Gonzales has advocated an approach which
"renders obsolete Geneva's strict limitations on questioning of enemy
prisoners and renders quaint some of its provisions." More recently,
Gonzales issued qualified support for the Geneva Conventions in January
2005 Senate te.........the revolution
has begun!
Tangents are infinite in all of nature in
all universes constantly and at random.
* D OUOSVAVV M *
*PUBLIUS ENIGMA*
Oh Joy!
The Psychedelic Pope
Patron Saint of the Internet
http://www.apple2.org.za/gswv/me/
.
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