NYT: F.B.I.'s Focus on Public Corruption Includes 2,000 Investigations

[Robbien]

WASHINGTON, May 10 — A post-9/11 effort by the F.B.I. to concentrate on public corruption now includes more than 2,000 investigations under way, highlighted by the Jack Abramoff lobbying inquiry, the racketeering and fraud conviction of former Gov. George Ryan of Illinois, and the multipronged corruption probes after the guilty plea by Randy Cunningham, a former Republican House member from San Diego, bureau officials said.

As one of the Bush administration's least known anticrime efforts, the F.B.I. initiative has yielded an unexpectedly rich array of cases. The results suggest that wrongdoing by public officials at all levels of government is deeply rooted and widespread. Several of the highest profile cases in which the F.B.I. played an active role involve Republicans.

Bureau officials believe that the investment in corruption cases is easily worth the cost. In 2004 and 2005, more than 1,060 government employees were convicted of corrupt activities, including 177 federal officials, 158 state officials, 360 local officials and 365 police officers, according to F.B.I. statistics. The number of convictions rose 27 percent from 2004 to 2005.

. . .

The F.B.I. is starting a Web site, reportcorruption.fbi.gov, through which people can send tips on corruption, although not anonymously, to be reviewed by agents at the bureau's headquarters.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/11/washington/11fbi.html

[Zorra]

1. Let's all report Ohio Rep. Robert Ney:

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002261.htm

[PSPS]

2. "As one of the Bush administration's least known anticrime efforts..."

Don't make me laugh.

> As one of the Bush administration's least known anticrime (sic) efforts, the
> F.B.I. initiative has yielded an unexpectedly rich array of cases.

They make it sound as if the "Bush Administration" is promoting this when, in fact, bush is the titular head of the criminal enterprise known today as the republican party.

And besides, with Torture Boy at the helm of Justice, I'm not holding my breath for the FBI to actually do anything material to halt the crime spree the republicans have been on for so many years.

[kestrel91316]

3. Somebody needs to report Bush to this website, methinks.

[NVMojo]

4. Methinks you are right!

[annabanana]

5. "the Bush administration's least known anticrime efforts"

That is screamingly funny.

Like this crowd isn't trying desperately to shut the whole thing down.

[stillcool]

6. an example of Bush's corruption-crime-fighters....

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1947685&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
Security Issue Kills Domestic Spying Inquiry: NSA Wouldn't Give Justice Dept. Clearance
By DEVLIN BARRETT

WASHINGTON May 10, 2006 (AP)— The government has abruptly ended an inquiry into the warrantless eavesdropping program because the National Security Agency refused to grant Justice Department lawyers the necessary security clearance to probe the matter.

"Without these clearances, we cannot investigate this matter and therefore have closed our investigation," wrote Jarrett

Separately, the Justice Department sought last month to dismiss a federal lawsuit accusing the telephone company AT&T of colluding with the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program.
The lawsuit, brought by an Internet privacy group, does not name the government as a defendant, but the Department of Justice has sought to quash the lawsuit, saying it threatens to expose government and military secrets.

On the Net:

Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility: http://www.usdoj.gov/opr/index.html

National Security Agency: http://www.nsa.gov/home html.cfm

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.