House Speaker Not Under Investigation: Justice (Hastert Victim of Drive-by Media)

Reuters ^ | Wednesday, May 24, 2006

[kristinn]

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday denied a report that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert, is under investigation by the FBI in connection with a corruption probe.

ABC News, citing high level Justice Department sources, said information implicating Hastert had been developed from convicted lobbyists who are now cooperating with the government.

But department officials, who asked to not be identified, said the story was not accurate and that Hastert was not under investigation. "The story is wrong. Hastert is not under investigation," one official said.

[OldFriend]

This is so far beyond the pale.

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

Yes, maybe hasty to criticize Hastert. We too are victims of the drive by media.

One thing I think though is that Hastert shouldn't be criticizing the FBI for successfully catching Jefferson until and unless ptoven that his concerns are warranted.

[Spunky]

Wouldn't they all just love it if no one could check out their offices for crime and corruption.

What I don't understand though is didn't the FBI search Gary Condits apartment (and maybe office, not sure) and I don't remember hearing this big out cry then.

[RasterMaster]

Did ABC hire Jayson Blair as their editor and Mary Mapes (sour grapes) & the Dan Rather fact-checking department?

[Darkwolf377]

Pelosi is going into orgasm interruptus.

BLECH!

[Darkwolf377]

Don't worry, you're not alone.

BTW, I am curious as to a more nefarious possibility, that this is all coming from the Justice Dept. as a way of yanking Hastert's chain for his reaction to the Jefferson investigation.

Maybe, just maybe, the Administration is stepping over the line in this instance? I don't know, I'm just askin'.

(It will be fun to see all the people who regularly call me a Bushbot now calling me a traitor for questioning the President.)

[CWOJackson]

You Trader-Bot!

[Darkwolf377]

I should have read the thread before posting, you posted the same idea I had.

I, too, have been bashing Hastert and company for their belief in their own elitism, but maybe we should be asking if the President is stepping over some lines here. I'm not accusing, just asking, as we should all be of our government at times.

[Darkwolf377]

Ya got me.

[nutmeg]

Feeble attempt to get the focus off of William Jefferson?

Most likely...

[rock58seg]

Do any of you realize? Being right or wrong is not what is important. Being first with the story is what is important. SARC/

[pinz-n-needlez]

Man, this story rose up and crashed down, all while I was at a meeting.

The media is either getting more efficient, or more pathetic. Let's see, I choose...... lol

Pinz

[cookcounty]

I'll bet ABC is trying a new angle on the James Dobson / Jack Abramof stunt.

Earlier this year the press aired charges that James Dobson of Focus on the Family was involved in the Abramof scandle because he had written a letter urging an Indian tribe's casino license be rejected. The press couldn't imagine any other motive, so the DRIVE-BY MEDIA assumed it was because of some corruption.

Turns out Dobson routinely writes letters urging rejection of casino licenses because he's anti-gambling

Hastert comes out of a very strict religious background that is extremely anti-gambling (the college he went to didn't allow dancing until 10 years ago). I don't know where he's at now, but he was very anti-gambling in his ealier years. It's probably a pretty safe "bet" that he's never been in a casino. It's quite possible his letter in opposition had legitimate motives.

[Purrcival]

I need a scorecard.

[Purrcival]

In other news, Karl Rove was secretly indicted on May 12 after a 15-hour marathon session at Patton Boggs, where Rove was advised that he had "24 business hours" to "get his affairs in order". How do I know this? Jason Leopold, William Rivers Pitt, and Truthout.org told me so! /DUmmie mode

[cookcounty]

"A senior federal law enforcement official tells ABC News the government is tracking the phone numbers we (Brian Ross and Richard Esposito) call in an effort to root out confidential sources. "

"Confidential Sources" = Crooks and Spies.

I should hope someone is lcollecting numbers.

[Purrcival]

Pelosi is going into orgasm interruptus.

"OH!! OH!! OH!! REPUBLICAN CULTURE OF CORRUPTION!! REPUBLICAN CULTURE OF CORRUPTION!! REPUBLICAN CULTURE OF CORRUPTION!! REPUBLICAN CULTURE OF CORRUPTION!! REPUBLICAN CULTURE OF CORRUPTION!! YES!! YES!!! YEsss. Oh. Never mind."

[Purrcival]

I swallowed the first story hook, line, and sinker. By now, I should know better.

[Fudd Fan]

What are you hypothesizing the president might could just possibly have done, theoretically?

Ye gads and liddle fishees.

[Darkwolf377]

What are you hypothesizing the president might could just possibly have done, theoretically?

You don't think it's possible the President of the United States had his Justice Department leak such a story to put the fear of God into a Speaker who is criticizing it for stepping over boundaries?

Let's not pretend it's not possible. And it's not disloyal to merely think about it.