Lawmaker News

Former New Hampshire congressional candidate Gary Dodds was sentenced to 20 days in jail Monday for faking his disappearance after a car crash two years ago. Dodds also had to pay the $20,500 to cover the money the state of New Hampshire spent looking for him.

While campaigning in April 2006, Dodds crashed his car and hid for 27 hours to draw attention to his campaign. Dodds spent at least part of the time inside soaking his feet in cold water to fake exposure.

During the trail, which concluded last month, prosecutors wanted to tell the jury that Dodds was with a woman with whom he was having an affair. The judge refused to allow any reference to the affair.

Following the fake disappearance, Dodds lost the primary to current Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D).

Susan Crabtree just posted a story:

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday dealt the Justice Department a major blow in its case against Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) in a decision that could make it more difficult for the government to investigate other members of Congress.

The Supreme Court denied a Justice Department appeal of a lower court ruling that aspects of the FBI raid on Jefferson

The Hill's Managing Editor Bob Cusack gives a preview of the week ahead in Congress.

President Bush called the recent spike in violence in Iraq "a defining moment in the history in Iraq," during an appearance with visiting Australian President Kevin Rudd.

The recent flare up has come as US and Iraqi forces are making a push to rout out Shiite militia strongholds in Baghdad and Basra.

"They are fighting some pretty tough characters... and yes, there's going to be violence, and that's sad," Bush said.

Klaus Marre just posted a story:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Friday said that she opposes a boycott of the Olympics despite her misgivings with China Read more...

Per AP:

President Bush has invited Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas to the White House in an effort to give a kick to Mideast peace talks, the White House said Thursday.

The plan, which envisions talks around the beginning of May, was revealed to reporters on Air Force One by National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe, who was accompanying Bush on a flight to Dayton, Ohio.

"Details are still being worked out," said Johndroe, who added that the talks would be part of a continuing effort "to work with the Palestinians and the Israelis as well as other countries in the region in realizing a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel."

After President Bush blasted Congressional leaders in his speech on Iraq earlier today, Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid has responded.

"Rather than criticizing Congress, President Bush should be working with us to hold the Iraqi government accountable. The President

President Bush defended questions from lawmakers of slow progress in Iraq in a speech Thursday. Video of the speech is after the jump.

"Some members of Congress decided the best way to encourage progress in Baghdad was to criticize and threaten Iraq's leaders while they're trying to work out their differences," Bush said. "But hectoring was not what the Iraqi leaders needed. What they needed was security. And that is what the surge has provided."

While conceding security gains have been made, Democrats have been questioning political progress and calling for a withdrawal. Read more...

According to an AP

Ranking Member on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Tom Davis (R-Va.) has released his report on Roger Clemens. The 109-page report follows up on a February hearing that saw Clemens and former trainer Brian McNamee testify to the committee. The FBI has launched an investigation examining whether Clemens lied to Congress.

"Did Roger Clemens lie to us?" Davis asked in a statement released with the report. "Some of the evidence seems to say he did."

The report details inconsistencies by both Clemens and McNamee and concludes:

The testimony of Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee is incompatible. One witness is lying