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SCOTT GRILLS FBI CHIEF
Rep. Robert Scott, D-Va., hammered FBI Director Robert Mueller Wednesday on whether the bureau is investigating alleged crimes committed by U.S.-contracted companies in Iraq.
Scott specifically cited cases of sexual assault at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on FBI oversight.
"Ultimately," Mueller said. "We're constrained by two areas," referring to inherent dangers of investigating crimes in a war zone and the challenge of getting witnesses to cooperate in Iraq.
Scott followed with, "Are we doing the best we can to investigate and if necessary prosecute?"
"Yes," Mueller replied.
Scott then brought up unpaid phone bills at the FBI that resulted in a loss of phone service at field offices.
Mueller said the agency has looked at five cases of lost phone service dating back six years and traced it to failed "financial systems."
No investigations were harmed by the phone problems, Mueller said.
CALLING OFF EARMARKS
Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., and four Republican colleagues called on all House Republicans to join them in a party-wide "earmark moratorium."
Cantor, who did not directly request any such congressionally-directed funds for local projects this year, sent the letter to colleagues April 16.
But most lawmakers already submitted requests for earmarks to the House Appropriations Committee, causing some Republicans to resist Cantor's call for the self-imposed moratorium.
"The feedback has been passionate on both sides," said Cantor, who sees the issue of reforming the earmark process as "emblematic of what most Americans feel is wrong with Washington."
In the letter, Cantor said earmarks are "key" to turning around polls that show voters favor Democrats on issues of fiscal responsibility.
"The best way to do that is show a unified Republican position and force the Democrats to come along with us for reform," he said in an interview.
"Unless and until we reverse these numbers, we cannot regain our majority," the letter said.
PETRAEUS NOMINATION
Sen. John Warner, R-Va., praised President Bush's decision Wednesday to nominate Gen. David Petraeus to lead the U.S. Central Command, which overseas both Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The president could not have made a better, more-qualified choice than Gen. David Petraeus to lead U.S. Central Command, the post that is currently charting much of the future course of America's security interests in the Middle East," Warner said in a statement.
Petraeus has overseen the recent increased U.S. combat troop presence in Iraq as commander of the multinational forces there. At Central Command he would replace retiring Admiral William Fallon.
WITTMAN STAFF
Rep. Rob Wittman's press secretary, Trainor Walsh, is leaving the freshman representative's office to manage a congressional campaign in Tennessee.
Walsh, 27, managed Wittman's special election campaign in 2007 that landed Wittman a seat in Congress. Walsh also handled Wittman's 2005 race to win a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.
"I just really enjoy the constant action - the strategic side of it," said Walsh, who starts May 1 as the campaign manager for Republican health executive Monty Lankford's bid for Congress.
"The opportunity came," Walsh said, and "we've completed the rest of the staff," referring to organizing Wittman's Washington office.
--Neil H. Simon
Rep. Robert Scott, D-Va., hammered FBI Director Robert Mueller Wednesday on whether the bureau is investigating alleged crimes committed by U.S.-contracted companies in Iraq.
Scott specifically cited cases of sexual assault at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on FBI oversight.
"Ultimately," Mueller said. "We're constrained by two areas," referring to inherent dangers of investigating crimes in a war zone and the challenge of getting witnesses to cooperate in Iraq.
Scott followed with, "Are we doing the best we can to investigate and if necessary prosecute?"
"Yes," Mueller replied.
Scott then brought up unpaid phone bills at the FBI that resulted in a loss of phone service at field offices.
Mueller said the agency has looked at five cases of lost phone service dating back six years and traced it to failed "financial systems."
No investigations were harmed by the phone problems, Mueller said.
CALLING OFF EARMARKS
Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., and four Republican colleagues called on all House Republicans to join them in a party-wide "earmark moratorium."
Cantor, who did not directly request any such congressionally-directed funds for local projects this year, sent the letter to colleagues April 16.
But most lawmakers already submitted requests for earmarks to the House Appropriations Committee, causing some Republicans to resist Cantor's call for the self-imposed moratorium.
"The feedback has been passionate on both sides," said Cantor, who sees the issue of reforming the earmark process as "emblematic of what most Americans feel is wrong with Washington."
In the letter, Cantor said earmarks are "key" to turning around polls that show voters favor Democrats on issues of fiscal responsibility.
"The best way to do that is show a unified Republican position and force the Democrats to come along with us for reform," he said in an interview.
"Unless and until we reverse these numbers, we cannot regain our majority," the letter said.
PETRAEUS NOMINATION
Sen. John Warner, R-Va., praised President Bush's decision Wednesday to nominate Gen. David Petraeus to lead the U.S. Central Command, which overseas both Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The president could not have made a better, more-qualified choice than Gen. David Petraeus to lead U.S. Central Command, the post that is currently charting much of the future course of America's security interests in the Middle East," Warner said in a statement.
Petraeus has overseen the recent increased U.S. combat troop presence in Iraq as commander of the multinational forces there. At Central Command he would replace retiring Admiral William Fallon.
WITTMAN STAFF
Rep. Rob Wittman's press secretary, Trainor Walsh, is leaving the freshman representative's office to manage a congressional campaign in Tennessee.
Walsh, 27, managed Wittman's special election campaign in 2007 that landed Wittman a seat in Congress. Walsh also handled Wittman's 2005 race to win a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.
"I just really enjoy the constant action - the strategic side of it," said Walsh, who starts May 1 as the campaign manager for Republican health executive Monty Lankford's bid for Congress.
"The opportunity came," Walsh said, and "we've completed the rest of the staff," referring to organizing Wittman's Washington office.
--Neil H. Simon