The Sleuth - Mary Ann Akers ... behind the scenes in Washington - May 11, 2008

Rep. John Linder's Embarrassing Exit

It wasn't his most graceful exit, we'll put it that way. Rep. John Linder (R-Ga.) was carried out of Bullfeathers, a Capitol Hill bar and restaurant, Thursday evening, feet dragging on the pavement, as congressional aides enjoying happy hour looked on in amazement. Two Capitol Hill Police cars and a fire truck were called to the scene. "They had to hold up him up by...

Sen. Obama's 'Sweetie' Seems Unfazed

All's well that ends well, sweetie. The Detroit television reporter who Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) called "sweetie" Wednesday as he ducked her question about autoworkers doesn't seem to be holding a grudge. The reporter, Peggy Agar, with WXYZ TV, an ABC News affiliate, says, "Frankly I have been called worse during interviews than just 'sweetie' so that really didn't take me aback right then." However,...

Rep. Issa's Unfortunate Look-Alike: Vito Fossella

As if Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) weren't taking enough heat already for calling the 9/11 terrorist attacks "simply" a plane crash, he now has the unfortunate problem of looking just like Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.). Rep. Darrell Issa, left, alongside Rep. Vito Fossella. For years the two have been confused for each other. But now, well, now isn't exactly a good time to be mistaken...

Majority Leader Harry Reid Outsources Amazon Tracking

All authors share one obsession: constantly checking their Amazon rankings. Some do it each hour, others every other hour. And yet others, like Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), have the luxury of delegating the task. Reid held his premiere book party Tuesday night at Wolfgang Puck's chic new downtown restaurant, The Source, adjoining the Newseum, where hundreds of politicians, journalists, lobbyists and other gladhanders turned out...

Waiting for Vito

By all accounts, Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.), who's back in Washington today preparing to vote on the House floor, is genuinely conflicted about whether he'll announce his retirement. Fossella's hired gun, crisis communications consultant Susan Del Percio, tells the Sleuth the congressman "has not made a decision." Asked when he is expected to decide one way or another, she said, "It's on his own timetable."...

Viva la Vito: Fossella's Backers and Detractors

Lucky for Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.), he has New York nightclub impresario John Englebert on his side. Englebert, a.k.a. "JE," who you can see here partying at the Playboy Mansion, is offering to donate space at his nightclubs to organize "rallys [sic] and petition drives in Manhattan to keep NYC Lone Republican Congressman Vito Fossella in office." In a press release titled "Viva Vito!" --...

Vito Fossella Hangs On, But For How Long?

Beleaguered Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) continues to hang on to his job, if by a thread. But some top Republicans are rallying to his defense, with the message: don't veto Vito. Encouraged by the support of elder New York politicians, Fossella is resisting calls from colleagues and newspaper editorials to retire. And despite the specter of a domino-like scandal with layer upon layer of problems...