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New governor focus of FBI investigation

By TIMES WIRES
Published February 16, 2007

The FBI is investigating whether Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons failed to properly report gifts or payments from a software company that was awarded secret military contracts when he was in Congress. The newly elected Republican governor denied any wrongdoing. "They can look as deeply as they need to and I encourage them to do so, but there would have been absolutely no influence," he said. A federal law enforcement official confirmed the FBI investigation Thursday. The inquiry reportedly is focused on what role, if any, Gibbons played in awarding contracts to eTreppid Technologies LLC and whether he received any gifts in exchange. Gibbons said he had not been contacted by the FBI regarding his contacts with Warren Trepp, a longtime friend and owner of eTreppid who contributed nearly $100,000 to Gibbons' campaign for governor.

Ex-House speaker pleads guilty

Jim Black, a top North Carolina Democrat and former speaker of the state House, pleaded guilty Thursday to accepting nearly $30,000 from three chiropractors while pushing for legislation they supported. One day after resigning from the House, Black appeared in a federal courtroom to plead guilty to a single count of accepting things of value in connection with the business of state government. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Prosecutors said Black accepted about $25,000 in cash on four occasions between February 2002 and December 2005. According to court documents, Black told one of the chiropractors at the last meeting, "This is just between me and you - don't you ever tell anybody about this."

Security screeners move toward union

A Senate committee voted Thursday to give airport screeners the collective bargaining and whistleblower protection rights that many other federal employees have. On a party-line vote, Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security Committee agreed, while all the Republicans voted against, giving the screeners the right to join a union and to be protected from retaliation if they report wrongdoing. The measure, which is opposed by the Bush administration, passed on a vote of 9-8. The TSA provision was part of a larger measure passed by the committee. The bill is intended to implement the remaining recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission. Last month the House passed its version, which differs in some respects from the Senate bill, but does contain TSA screener rights.

The Senate bill would also improve information-sharing among federal, state and local governments, and set standards for intelligence fusion centers where all levels of government can come together and share information that might prevent an attack, or help respond to one.

[Last modified February 16, 2007, 01:17:39]