If you have solid tips, news or documents on potential ethical violations or abuses of power, we want to know. Send us your suggestions. 
Unfortunately I believe that we are limited in what we can focus on. I think that if we proceed with the partisan sideshow of prosecuting Bush admin. officials, healthcare will get lost in the brouhaha.
The Washington Post's permanent investigative unit was set up in 1982 under Bob Woodward.
Mahoney Affair Fallout, Pfizer Settlement, China's Reluctant Courts
Good morning, and welcome to the Daily Read for Friday. We'll be waiting to hear more testimony today from Sen. Ted Steven, the Alaska Republican facing federal corruption charges even as he runs for reelection. In the meantime, there's plenty here to keep us busy. See something we missed? Post your suggestions in the comments below.
AP: Feds Investigating Mahoney » The FBI is investigating whether Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.) broke any laws or misused federal money when he hired a mistress to work in his office, according to a senior federal law enforcement official ... meanwhile, The Palm Beach Post rescinded its endorsement of Mahoney yesterday, calling for the Democrat to withdraw from the race for his U.S. congressional seat. — Associated Press, ABC News
Pfizer Agrees to $894 Million Settlement » The drugmaker Pfizer announced this morning that it has reached agreements in principle that would settle 90 percent of personal injury suits related to its painkiller drugs, Bextra and Celebrex. — Wall Street Journal
China's Reluctant Courts » Tainted infant formula is the latest in a long string of food and drug safety problems that have exposed corruption and inefficiency among China's regulators. But the problem goes well beyond poor regulatory oversight -- companies that produce shoddy goods are rarely penalized by China's Communist-run legal system. — New York Times
A High Price for D.C. Jobs » A Washington Post examination has found that the District's willingness to pay private organizations thousands of dollars in fees -- up to $9,755 per student in one case -- for each student in its youth jobs program contributed to $30 million in cost overruns. — Washington Post
EPA Tightens Airborne Lead Limits » Despite a last-minute lobbying effort by battery recyclers, the Environmental Protection Agency lowered the legal maximum of airborne lead to a tenth of what it was on the grounds that it poses a serious threat to young children. — Washington Post
Fla. Donor Assailed Over Fuel Deal » Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House oversight committee, alleges war profiteering by Harry Sargeant III, founder of International Oil Trading Co. (IOTC), and a prolific donor to political candidates from both parties, including Republican presidential candidate John McCain. — Washington Post
DynCorp Faces Fraud Allegations » An Afghan construction company and eight of its employees have filed a federal lawsuit against DynCorp International, alleging that the large government contractor engaged in fraud, threatened workers and took $2.5 million worth of equipment and material. — Washington Post
LAPD Faults Fingerprint Experts » An internal report of the Los Angeles Police Department finds that people have been falsely implicated in crimes due to problems with fingerprint analysis, but LAPD officials apparently do not have the funds to pay for a comprehensive audit to investigate the extent of the problem. — Los Angeles Times
By Amanda Zamora |
October 17, 2008; 9:43 AM ET
The Daily Read
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