A California woman is facing a steep fine and possibly time in the slammer for — get this — allegedly impersonating a congressional staffer. The DOJ announced Thursday that it has charged Susan Tomsha-Miguel of Atwater, Calif. with passing herself off as an aide to Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.). The owner of a tax consulting firm, Tomsha-Miguel allegedly asked for Cardoza's office to help her client resolve a tax dispute with the IRA. Cardoza's office sent Tomsha-Miguel a form with his congressional letterhead, which she then used to fabricate a letter — purportedly signed by a Cardoza aide but in reality a fake — to her client claiming help was on the way, the DOJ said. "The counterfeit letter claimed that the IRS official had ... Continue reading →

SEC Staff Said to End Lehman Probe Without Recommending Action By Joshua Gallu - 2012-05-24T19:23:00Z U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigators have concluded their probe of possible financial fraud at Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and determined that they will probably not recommend any enforcement action against the firm or its former executives, according to an excerpt of an internal agency memo. The agency has been grappling with the case for more than three years amid questions from lawmakers and investors as to whether Lehman misrepresented its financial health before filing the biggest bankruptcy in U.S. history in September 2008. Under a heading reading “Activity in the Last Four Weeks,” the undated document reads, “The staff has concluded its investigation and determined that charges will likely ... Continue reading →

As the panel held the first hearing on the JPMorgan losses, Sen. Richard Shelby (Ala.), the committee’s ranking Republican, glowered at federal regulators and charged that they “didn’t know what was really going on.”“When did you first learn about these trades?” Shelby inquired. Gary Gensler, head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, admitted that he had learned about them from press reports.“Press reports!” Shelby echoed, with mock surprise. He smiled. “Were you in the dark?” Gensler tried to explain that his agency does not yet have authority to regulate the bank, but Shelby interrupted. “So you really didn’t know what was going on . . . until you read the press reports like the rest of us?” he asked again.“That’s what I’ve said,” Gensler repeated.But ... Continue reading →

Monday, Oct 10, 2011 5:36 PM UTC2011-10-10T17:36:00Zl, M j, Y g:i A T Monday, Oct 10, 2011 5:30 PM UTC2011-10-10T17:30:00Zl, M j, Y g:i A T Monday, Oct 10, 2011 3:30 PM UTC2011-10-10T15:30:00Zl, M j, Y g:i A T Monday, Oct 10, 2011 3:00 PM UTC2011-10-10T15:00:00Zl, M j, Y g:i A T By Thomas Rogers A Michigan woman demands compensation when Ryan Gosling's arty movie doesn't deliver the chase scenes she wanted VIDEO 16Comments Monday, Oct 10, 2011 2:36 PM UTC2011-10-10T14:36:00Zl, M j, Y g:i A T Monday, Oct 10, 2011 2:34 PM UTC2011-10-10T14:34:00Zl, M j, Y g:i A T By Alex Pareene He got glitter-bombed and he's fighting with the Koch brothers Topics:Karl Rove, washington d.c., washington d.c., Gay marriage, LGBT, washington d.c., washington ... Continue reading →

Gosh! When did I end up in bed with Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber? Could it be because I did specialize in blowing things up while serving my country for four years as an airborne combat engineer? I also watched human beings blown up. I had friends and Navy SEALs I was in battle with blown up. My own intestines exploded on the first of my four combat embeds, three in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. Took seven operations to fix the plumbing. I later suffered other permanent injuries. Yet now I find myself linked not only with the Unabomber, but also Charles Manson and Fidel Castro. Or so says the Chicago-based think tank the Heartland Institute, for which I’ve done work. Heartland erected billboards depicting ... Continue reading →

(Berlin) – Azerbaijan’s human rights record deteriorated in 2011 as the government cracked down on all forms of protests even as it sought to enhance its international prestige, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2012.Azerbaijan fostered a hostile environment for journalists and others critical of the authorities. The government severely restricted freedom of assembly, did not authorize a single opposition rally in the capital, Baku, and, swiftly and often violently, dispersed unauthorized gatherings. A sweeping urban renewal campaign in central Baku resulted in forced evictions, illegal expropriations, and house demolitions. The government brought politically motivated charges against critics and harassed human rights defenders. “Azerbaijan is determined to boost its international image by taking leadership positions in regional and international forums, and by hosting ... Continue reading →