GOP $100,000 bribe (medicare reform) to be investigated..? Media...?

[cthrumatrix]

Now It's a Scandal
New evidence that a House GOP leader offered a bribe.
By Timothy Noah
Posted Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003, at 2:56 PM PT

Acting Deputy Attorney General James Comey told reporters yesterday that he had not seen the request for the investigation, but added whenever the department gets such a request, "we read it carefully and then make an evaluation. We will review the letter."
—Newsday, Dec. 5, 2003

Q: There have been some pretty serious allegations laid out by Rep. Nick Smith that he was offered $100,000 for his son's campaign in exchange for his vote on the Medicare bill. I know Democrats have sent some letters to the Justice Department. Where are you in reviewing those letters? And is an investigation in the pipeline?

Attorney General John Ashcroft: Well, we, obviously, frequently receive information in which individuals bring to our attention things that they think are appropriate for our attention, and we consider those very seriously.
—Justice Department press conference, Dec. 11, 2003

So far, the department says, no decision has been made on an investigation. "We are reviewing ... to see what if any action would be taken," a spokeswoman said late last week, declining to comment further.
—Washington Post, Dec. 23, 2003

What does a guy have to do to get a congressional bribe investigated? Even making allowances for slow readers, John Ashcroft's Justice Department is taking an awfully long time to decide whether to do anything about the (unsuccessful) attempt to bribe Rep. Smith.

snip


http://slate.msn.com/id/2093162/

[jbfam4]

1. doesn't sound like

they are going to get right on this, does it? Down the memory hole with the Wilson leak. Kick this up and keep it alive.

[Cocoa]

3. the thing these stories have in common...

the basic facts are not in dispute, not at all.

Novak DID publish the name of the agent, and he attributed it to senior administration officials.

Nick Smith said on the radio, and wrote it in an editorial, that he was bribed, and he gave the $100,000 figure.

No wonder the media isn't interested. :eyes:

[cthrumatrix]

2. sounds like Ashcroft is unclear if a GOP bribe is "illegal"....we know

that a democrat bribe certainly would be.

[jbfam4]

4. right

The rule of law that the GOP talked about during the impeachment and was so important only applies to dems.