Raw Story Reports:
A file allegedly suppressed by Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM) has been obtained by RAW STORY.In 1995, just three days into her tenure as Secretary of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, Wilson removed a routine working file alleging that her husband had engaged in inappropriate contact with a minor. The file was then transferred to the department's attorney in her own Albuquerque office, where it soon went missing.
At the time, a local investigative news team learned about the swap, but could not confirm certain details of the file. They were not able to recover the document itself.
More than ten years later, RAW STORY has uncovered and confirmed the authenticity of the police incident report believed to be contained in the missing dossier. Filed as a case of child abuse in 1993, it contends that Wilson's husband Jay Hone, an Albuquerque attorney, touched a then-16 year old boy "in a manner that was not welcome."
Charges were never filed against her husband, but Wilson's handling of the affair drew the ire of Bob Schwartz who at the time served as district attorney in Bernalillo County. He described Wilson's actions to the news team as "absolutely inappropriate," citing her "obvious conflict of interest." He also admonished Wilson for not following official procedure for the removal of official documents. "If this file is behind Secretary Wilson's desk," Schwartz said, "then she shouldn't be behind this desk anymore. She should resign."Wilson originally denied removing the file to the news team. Footage from that investigation had been available on the internet site YouTube as recently as several days ago, but has since been removed by the site over concerns regarding copyright infringment.
In that video, also uncovered by RAW STORY, Wilson is seen flatly denying ordering the removal of the document. The Congresswoman ultimately admitted to doing so in a press conference just days later.
Amazingly, this story ties in with the Mark Foley scandal:
Six years after the incident, in 2001, Wilson began a three year term on the House Page Board, where she sat while rumors of Mark Foley's inappropriate behavior with underage men were reportedly widespread. Her campaign staff told the Albuquerque Tribune that she only became aware of the Congressman's behavior after an ABC news report on the matter prompted him to resign.
Wilson also currently serves on the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's caucus.
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Short version: The GOP gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Beuprez (R-CO) ran an attack ad that may have been based on confidential law enforcement knowledge; there is evidence that an FBI database was opened. It is illegal to use federal databases for anything other than law enforcement purposes. Violators can be sentenced to prison and fined.
FBI joins investigation in guv race
Beauprez, staff expect to be queried on database accessRocky Mountain News
October 19, 2006
A criminal investigation that now involves the FBI sent shock waves through the race for Colorado governor Wednesday.The Colorado Bureau of Investigation announced that it had determined that someone accessed information in an FBI database on Carlos Estrada Medina, who has been the star of a TV attack ad against Democrat Bill Ritter.
Number two involves a GOP Congressional candidate in Orange County California who is accused of having letters sent to Hispanics warning them:
You are advised that if your residence in this country is illegal or you are an immigrant, voting in a federal election is a crime that could result in jail time."http://news.yahoo.co...
Note: Immigrants who are adult naturalized citizens are eligible to vote.
In this case, the GOP is doing the right thing -- asking the candidate to withdraw:
County Republican Chairman Scott Baugh, however, said that after speaking with state investigators and the company that distributed the mailer, he believes Nguyen had direct knowledge [of the mailing]."
As TPMm readers know well, House Appropriations chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA) is under federal investigation for possible improprieties in how he oversaw Congress' spending of $900 billion annually. Yesterday, we reported that Lewis had dropped nearly $800,000 in legal fees to defend himself against the probe.This evening, Congressional Quarterly reports (sub. req.) that in a round of calls Monday evening, Lewis fired 60 investigators who had worked for his committee rooting out fraud, waste and abuse, effective immediately. As in, don't bother coming in on Tuesday.
The investigators were contract workers, brought on to handle the extraordinary level of fraud investigations facing the panel. Sixteen permanent investigative staff are staying on, according to CQ.
Lewis’ decision “has in fact stalled all of the investigations on the staff,” said one of the contractors, a former FBI agent, who asked not to be identified. “This eviscerates the investigatory function. There is little if any ability to do any oversight now.”