Agriculture Boss Leaving to Run for Senate

Disgraced senator says supporters don't want him to resign

(NEWSER) - Sen. John Ensign says he’ll stick with his job and run for reelection despite news of his affair and his parents’ $96,000 payment to his mistress’ family, the Las Vegas Sun reports. The Republican says his supporters are telling him he shouldn’t resign, and “I fully plan on running for reelection,” he says. “I’m going to work to earn their respect back.” More»

(NEWSER) - Republicans are slamming Nancy Pelosi for saying she felt she had no recourse when informed of harsh interrogation tactics in 2003, Politico reports. “If she felt it was wrong, she should have acted,” John McCain said. Some critics suggest the House speaker could have written a letter or requested a meeting with the president. A Pelosi aide said, “We were not in a position to change the policy.” More»

Burris has clearly lied, and has to resign

(NEWSER) - Time to go, Roland. The Chicago Tribune editorializes today that Sen. Roland Burris should resign, having used up his last shred of credibility by the time he changed his story for the fourth time yesterday—with the story getting "worse with every telling." Whether and how much he actively cooperated with then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s scheme to sell the Obama's former Senate seat, Burris was seated by the Senate on the condition that he testify truthfully—the first time. More»

Move comes after article depicts him defying Bush on Iran

(NEWSER) - The top US military commander for the Middle East resigned today after the publication of a magazine profile that portrayed him as a vocal opponent of the Bush administration's Iran strategy, the AP reports. Adm. William Fallon, head of US Central Command, denied any rift and said he stepped down only because recent press reports created a "distraction at a critical time," ABC News reports. More»

Act challenging executive privilege may stall before full Senate

(NEWSER) - The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to hold Karl Rove and Josh Bolten in contempt today, the AP reports, for ignoring subpoenas on the US attorneys scandal. The White House, however, says the citations will likely die on the Senate floor. “I vote knowing that it’s highly likely to be a meaningless act,” Sen. Arlen Specter said. “In this context, we have no alternative.” More»