Witness against Sen. Stevens says he hid the truth
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<span class="strong">Ted Stevens</span><br/> <span class="dgray f-10">Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, talks with reporters during a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska Friday, Sept. 19, 2008. Stevens says he plans to testify at his corruption trial scheduled to begin in Washington on Monday.(AP Photo/Al Grillo) </span>
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<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/ted-stevens/3544/">Biography</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/ted-stevens/3544/issues/">Issues</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/ted-stevens/3544/money/">Fund Raising</a></td>
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<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/ted-stevens/3544/rivals/">Rivals</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/ted-stevens/3544/supporters/">Supporters</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/ted-stevens/3544/affiliations/">Affiliations</a></td>
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<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/ted-stevens/3544/photos/">Photos</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/ted-stevens/3544/videos/">Videos</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/ted-stevens/3544/forums/">Forums</a></td>
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<p>One of the government's witnesses against convicted Sen. <a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/ted-stevens/3544/">Ted Stevens</a> of Alaska says he didn't tell the truth on the stand about an immunity deal with the Justice Department in exchange for his testimony. But federal prosecutors said Friday that his current story is the false one.</p>
"I testified to the fact that there was never immunity for me or my family and friends," welder David Anderson said in a November letter to a federal judge placed in court files by Stevens' lawyers. "That is simply not true."
The Justice Department responded quickly, saying the government never made any agreement of immunity for Anderson or any of his family or friends. "Mr. Anderson's statement in his November 2008 letter is not true, and the court is aware that it is not true," government lawyers said.
Stevens' lawyers have asked U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan to hold a hearing on Anderson's charges and to let them investigate it. It was not immediately known when Sullivan would make a ruling.
The Justice Department had no immediate comment.
Stevens, 85 and the Senate's longest-serving Republican, was convicted on seven felony counts of lying on Senate financial disclosure documents to hide hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and home renovations from millionaire businessman and VECO founder Bill Allen, who is Anderson's uncle.
The senator, who won't be sentenced until early 2009, has said he will appeal the conviction. He lost his Senate seat to Democratic challenger Mark Begich in the November election.
Stevens gave his farewell speech to the Senate on Thursday, telling his colleagues: "I look only forward and I still see the day when I can remove the cloud that currently surrounds me."
Anderson supervised the start of the 2000 renovation of Stevens' Girdwood, Alaska, home and later responded to maintenance requests by Stevens and his wife. He testified at the trial that a March 2008 affidavit he signed that would give immunity to his family and friends in exchange for his testimony was false.
"That was never said," Anderson testified on Oct. 9. "It was kind of a gentleman's agreement, you know."
In his letter, Anderson said: "The agreement was that if I cooperated my entire family would be safe from the investigation(s) of the Department of Justice and also the Treasury Department. The Department of Justice has never ever denied that they shook my hand on this agreement but instructed me on how to sugar coat it and get it swept under the rug during the trial as they have told the court just the opposite."
But the Justice Department said Anderson told two FBI agents in an August 13 meeting that he knew there was no immunity agreement and that the March affidavit was false.
The government agreed not to make him testify against family members, but "Anderson knew that there had been no agreement relative to immunity or promises of immunity by the government as to anyone," the Justice Department said.
Anderson also said he was given extensive help by the prosecutors in remembering events surrounding the renovation of Stevens' house.
"Without the preparation from the prosecution and reminders from them about my activities and the agreement I had with them about my family and myself I would not have given the same testimony," Anderson said. "Without a shadow of a doubt I believe this trial would have gone much differently."
Federal prosecutors say this is also untrue and they will submit documents and video evidence Monday "that prove the falsity of Mr. Anderson's allegations."
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Dems give Lieberman wrist slap over backing McCain
Sure appears to be business as usual. I don't see the change that Obama promised. I guess the chumps are looking out for each other instead of doing their jobs that they were elected to do. It is really depressing.
Dems give Lieberman wrist slap over backing McCain
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<span class="strong">Harry Reid</span><br/> <span class="dgray f-10">Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., center, accompanied by incoming Democratic senators, concludes a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Nov. 17, 2008. From left are, Sen.-Elect Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Sen.-Elect Jeff Merkley, D.Ore., Sen.-Elect Tom Udall, D.N.M., Reid, Sen.-Elect Mark Warner, D-Va., Sen.-elect Kay Hagan, D-N.C., and Sen.-Elect Mark Udall, D-Colo. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)</span>
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<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/harry-reid/3357/">Biography</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/harry-reid/3357/issues/">Issues</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/harry-reid/3357/money/">Fund Raising</a></td>
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<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/harry-reid/3357/rivals/">Rivals</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/harry-reid/3357/supporters/">Supporters</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/harry-reid/3357/affiliations/">Affiliations</a></td>
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<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/harry-reid/3357/photos/">Photos</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/harry-reid/3357/videos/">Videos</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/harry-reid/3357/forums/">Forums</a></td>
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<p>Senate Democrats decided not to take revenge on Joe Lieberman despite lingering anger over the Connecticut independent's forceful support of <a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/john-mccain/3047/">John McCain</a> over <a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/barack-obama/3221/">Barack Obama</a> in the presidential campaign.</p>
In opting to let bygones be bygones, Democrats decided to let Lieberman remain chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee even though some Senate Democrats wanted to punish him for criticizing Obama in a speech at the Republican National Convention and elsewhere as he traveled around the country campaigning for McCain.
Lieberman's colleagues in the Democratic caucus voted 42-13 Tuesday to approve a resolution condemning statements Lieberman made during the campaign but letting him keep the Homeland Security Committee gavel.
President-elect Barack Obama had weighed in on Lieberman's behalf to urge Democrats to make sure he remains in the Democratic caucus in the Senate. It was feared that Lieberman might bolt the caucus if he'd been booted as Homeland Security chairman.
"The Senate Democratic caucus has decided that if President-elect Barack Obama can forgive, so can we," said Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., who helped fashion a compromise resolution that rebuked Lieberman for his statements but let him keep his chairmanship. "If Barack can move on, so can we."
Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada was among those who had met with Reid less than two weeks ago and proposed removing Lieberman's chairmanship. But he had a change of heart and recommended Tuesday's light punishment.
"We're looking forward, we're not looking back," Reid said.
"This is the beginning of a new chapter, and I know that my colleagues in the Senate Democratic Caucus were moved not only by the kind words that Senator Reid said about my longtime record, but by the appeal from President-elect Obama himself that the nation now unite to confront our very serious problems," Lieberman said after the vote.
Lieberman, who was Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore's running mate in 2000, was re-elected in 2006 as an independent after losing his state's Democratic primary to Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont amid intense anti-war sentiment. Lieberman is a strong supporter of the war.
One senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private, said Lieberman spoke openly about the rejection he faced in 2006, when many Democrats supported his opponent during the Connecticut Senate race.
"He spoke earnestly of the pain he felt when he was rejected by the Democratic Party in his re-election and in turn, the rejection he felt from many in the caucus who campaigned against him after decades and decades of friendship," the lawmaker said. "And that put him in a very different place approaching the 2008 election and John McCain was the only candidate for president who asked for his support."
Lieberman remains a registered Democrat and aligns with the party in the Senate, where he supports the party position on most issues other than the war.
Lieberman expressed regret about some of the things he said but not about supporting McCain.
"There are some (statements) that I made that I wish I had not," Lieberman told reporters. "In the heat of campaigns, that happens to all of us, but I regret that. And now it's time to move on."
Senator-elect Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., was critical of Lieberman at the caucus and said afterward in a statement that he was "very personally disappointed by his conduct during the campaign." He wouldn't say how he voted on the resolution.
"Serving as a committee chairman is a privilege, not an entitlement and I expressed those views during today's meeting," Merkley said. "Beyond that, I hope we can move forward as a caucus to do the work we were elected to do."
For their part, Senate Republicans put off a vote on whether to eject Ted Stevens of Alaska from their conference, pending an ongoing vote count that was trending against him.
Stevens, who turned 85 Tuesday, has served in the Senate for 40 years, the longest-serving Republican senator ever. He was convicted of seven felony counts last month for lying on his financial disclosure forms to conceal more than $250,000 in gifts from in gifts and home renovations from an oil field services company.
Reid held off on announcing the full slate of committee chairs pending the outcome of Senate races that could affect the partisan split on various panels.
Also among the musical chairs is an avalanche of changes in Senate committee chairmanships sparked by Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd's decision to step aside at the age of 90. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, is in line to succeed Byrd.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., is poised to take over Inouye's chairmanship of the Commerce Committee; Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., is in turn ready to take over for Rockefeller at the Intelligence Committee, and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., would chair the Rules Committee spot vacated by Feinstein.
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., is slated to take over the Foreign Relations Committee from Vice President-elect Joe Biden.
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Democrats let Lieberman keep committee chair
What benefit is it to have a majority, if the leaders in the senate are chumps? This a sad day for democrats that believed we were going to see a change, not business as usual.
Bush's remarks upon arrival at summit
<p><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/george-w-bush/15308/">President Bush</a>'s remarks Saturday upon arriving at the economic summit in Washington:</p>
Good morning. We had a good dinner last night. I am pleased with the progress we're making on to one, address the current crisis. I am pleased that we're discussing a way forward to make sure that such a crisis is unlikely to occur again. And I am pleased that the leaders reaffirmed the principles behind open markets and free trade. One of the dangers during a crisis such as this is that people will start implementing protectionist policies.
Obviously, you know, this crisis has not ended. There's some progress being made, but there's still a lot of more work to be done. And so we had a good good, frank discussion last night. I look forward to the discussions today. And we'll see you after the meetings have ended.
Thank you.
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GOP spent $150,000 in donations on Palin's look
In my view,the conduct of McCain and his henchmen and henchwomen have not only eroded my confidence significantly, they have eroded it totally.
GOP spent $150,000 in donations on Palin's look
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<span class="strong">Sarah Palin</span><br/> <span class="dgray f-10">Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, speaks to supporters during a rally in Henderson, Nev., Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)</span>
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<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/sarah-palin/13380/">Biography</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/sarah-palin/13380/issues/">Issues</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/sarah-palin/13380/money/">Fund Raising</a></td>
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<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/sarah-palin/13380/rivals/">Rivals</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/sarah-palin/13380/supporters/">Supporters</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/sarah-palin/13380/affiliations/">Affiliations</a></td>
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<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/sarah-palin/13380/photos/">Photos</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/sarah-palin/13380/videos/">Videos</a></td>
<td class="alt"><a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/sarah-palin/13380/forums/">Forums</a></td>
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<p>When the Republican Party decided to coordinate expenses with <a href="http://www.politicalbase.com/people/john-mccain/3047/">John McCain</a>'s presidential campaign, who knew it would be color coordinated.</p>
The Republican National Committee spent about $150,000 on clothing, hair styling, makeup and other "campaign accessories" in September for the McCain campaign after Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin joined the ticket as his running mate.
The McCain campaign now says the clothing will go to a "charitable purpose" after the campaign.
The expenses include $75,062 spent at Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis and $41,850 in St. Louis in early September. The committee also reported spending $4,100 for makeup and hair consulting. The expenses were first reported by Politico.com.
The RNC also spent $4,902 at Atelier, a stylish men's clothing store in New York. Other purchases included a $92 romper and matching hat with ears for Palin's baby, Trig, at Pacifier, a baby store in Minneapolis.
Wing Witthuhn, who owns the store with her husband, said a young staffer with an RNC credit card purchased the clothes during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Trig wore the romper the night Palin addressed the convention.
"With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it's remarkable that we're spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses," said McCain spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt, who has been traveling with Palin. "It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign."
In 2007, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards sparked Internet derision and jokes from late-night TV comics after his campaign for the party's nomination paid for two $400 haircuts by a stylist from Beverly Hills, Calif. His campaign said the bill was paid by the campaign by mistake and that Edwards would reimburse the campaign.
The RNC has been helping the McCain campaign financially now that McCain is locked into spending only $84 million for the fall campaign under his agreement to accept public financing. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, chose not to participate in the public system and raised a whopping $150 million in September.
The RNC is allowed to spend up to $19 million in "coordinated expenses" with the campaign. In September, it spent a a total of $4.4 million. The clothing and styling was part of that, but most was spent on postage for campaign mailings.
So why did the RNC and not McCain's committee pay for the accessories?
The 2002 campaign finance law that bears McCain's name specifically barred any funds that "are donated for the purpose of supporting the activities of a federal or state office holder" from being used for personal expenses including clothing. A quirk in the law does not specifically mention party committees, however.
That doesn't mean the expenditure would not be subject to a challenge before the Federal Election Commission.
Lawrence M. Noble, former general counsel at the FEC, noted that as a coordinated party expense, the clothing purchase could be considered a contribution to the campaign.
"And if it was a contribution, then it could not have been used for buying clothing," Noble said. "I don't know how the FEC would come out on that question."
"If it is covered (as a personal use expense), the argument that we were going to give it to a charity doesn't help," he added.
Fifteen years ago, McCain himself complained that restrictions on political contributions for personal use at that time were too broad and he wrote an amendment to tighten the law.
"The use of campaign funds for items which most Americans would consider to be strictly personal reasons, in my view, erodes public confidence and erodes it significantly," he said on the Senate floor in May 1993.
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Is Barack Obama American Enough for the Oval Office?
Who knows what to believe anymore.
