Free Republic

John Edwards' mug shot released By: CNN Political Unit (CNN)–Former U.S. Senator John Edwards, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and campaign law violations in early June. His mug shot was obtained by CNN following a Freedom of Information Act request. The plea came after a federal grand jury indicted him on six counts, including conspiracy, issuing false statements and violating campaign contribution laws. A grand jury has been investigating whether money given to support Edwards' mistress, Rielle Hunter, by benefactors of Edwards should have been considered campaign donations, a contention Edwards' team has disputed. A plea deal between the two-time...

<p>A federal grand jury has slapped Queens Rep. Gregory Meeks with a subpoena demanding records about his tax-exempt charities and what happened to their money -- including one that stiffed Hurricane Katrina victims, law-enforcement sources revealed yesterday.</p> <p>The subpoena from a Manhattan grand jury signals an expanding corruption probe of Meeks and two fellow Queens Democrats, state Senate President Malcolm Smith and the Rev. Floyd Flake, who also were involved in separate subpoenas issued earlier this month.</p>

The FBI and a federal grand jury have been investigating an extensive remodeling project on the Alaska home of Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in Senate history, according to the Anchorage Daily News. The investigation apparently stems from an ongoing public corruption probe that has already entangled Stevens' son, Ben, but the direct link remains unclear. One of the contractors interviewed in the piece said an oil-field services company embroiled in the broader investigation reviewed each of his invoices for the extensive remodeling project on the senator's home. Two top company executives pleaded guilty on May 7 to federal...