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Ill. prosecutors seek grades, e-mails of journalism students investigating murder conviction

Ill. prosecutors seek journalism students’ grades

Dozens of House members under scrutiny, from early review to full probe, ethics report shows

Ethics panel scrutinizing dozens of House members

House panel investigating role of mortgage lenders in crisis; subpoenas Countrywide Financial

WASHINGTON — A House panel is investigating the role of mortgage lenders in the financial crisis and is seeking information from some of the biggest U.S. companies to determine if they used deceptive practices to lure borrowers into the housing boom.

New Mexico investment officer resigns amid fed probe into deals and pressure by state council

SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico State Investment Officer Gary Bland has resigned amid a federal investigation into state investment deals and pressure to remove him by members of the State Investment Council over his alleged role helping third-party placement agents.

Former NY power broker Raymond Harding pleads guilty in pension fund corruption scandal

NEW YORK — A political power broker and an investment executive who advised government officials in several states have pleaded guilty to securities fraud in connection with a “pay-to-play” scandal at New York’s public pension fund.

US regulators subpoena documents of brain disease with drugmaker Elan’s Tysabri

WASHINGTON — U.S. financial regulators are demanding drugmaker Elan Corp. turn over records about a potentially lethal brain disease linked to its drug Tysabri, according to a government filing form.

US marshal who served Nixon with subpoenas at Calif. home dead at 81

TARZANA, Calif. — A U.S. marshal who served former President Richard Nixon with two Watergate-related subpoenas at his California home has died.

Obama administration wants to continue law authorizing terrorism wiretaps and subpoenas

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration promised Congress on Tuesday to negotiate stronger privacy protections for Americans under terrorism surveillance but insisted on retaining current authority to track suspects and obtain records.

AP Source: Cuomo subpoenas 5 Bank of America board members over Merrill Lynch deal

NEW YORK — The New York Attorney General’s office subpoenaed five members of Bank of America Corp.’s board Wednesday as part of an investigation into its acquisition of troubled investment bank Merrill Lynch & Co., according to a person familiar with the investigation.

Feds seek grand jury testimony from Associated Press photographer in Katrina death probe

NEW ORLEANS — An Associated Press photographer has been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury probing the death of a man whose burned body was found in a car near a police station several weeks after Hurricane Katrina.

Prominent Spanish judge called to testify for allegedly overstepping bounds in civil war probe

MADRID — The Spanish judge famous for indicting Augusto Pinochet and Osama bin Laden will testify before the Supreme Court on Wednesday about allegations he acted without jurisdiction in undertaking an inquiry of Spanish civil war-era crimes, an official said.

New Mexico Gov. Richardson’s political future brighter after fed pay-to-play probe ends

SANTA FE, N.M. — A dark cloud over Gov. Bill Richardson’s political future has lifted after the federal government’s decision against indictments in a pay-to-play investigation that prompted the governor to withdraw his nomination as U.S. commerce secretary earlier this year.

Democratic chairman won’t sign subpoena for Countrywide VIP mortgage records

WASHINGTON — House Democrats have declined to subpoena available records that might reveal whether other members of Congress got discounted VIP mortgages from subprime lender Countrywide Financial Corp. similar to the sweetheart deals given Democratic Sens. Chris Dodd and Kent Conrad.

Supreme Court rules that national banks are subject to some state laws

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that states can apply some of their own laws to big national banks operating within their borders, a decision proponents called a huge win for consumers and for states seeking more power to regulate financial activities.

Supreme Court says state attorneys general must go to court to investigate national banks

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court said Monday that state attorneys general can investigate national banks for discrimination and other crimes, but only with a court’s help.

House subpoenas documents that could shed new light on Fed’s role in Bank of America merger

WASHINGTON — A House panel has subpoenaed documents that lawmakers say could shed new light on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s role in Bank of America’s acquisition of Merrill Lynch.

Las Vegas newspaper to comply with narrowed subpoena for info on authors of Web site comments

LAS VEGAS — A Nevada newspaper reported Wednesday it will comply with a narrowed federal grand jury subpoena seeking information about the identity of two people who posted Web site comments about a criminal tax trial.

Palin nominates Daniel S. Sullivan to be Alaska’s attorney general

SOLDOTNA, Alaska — Gov. Sarah Palin on Tuesday appointed a former Anchorage lawyer with White House and State Department service to be Alaska’s new attorney general after her earlier choice was rejected by state lawmakers.

Congressional investigators say documents prove the Fed threatened to oust bank CEO

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve threatened to force the ouster of Bank of America CEO Kenneth Lewis if he didn’t follow through with plans to buy Merrill Lynch & Co., Republicans said Wednesday after reviewing internal documents.

Former Alaska attorney general, figure in Troopergate case, wins election as borough mayor

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A former Alaska attorney general who represented state workers in the Troopergate investigation has been elected mayor of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

Congress subpoenas Fed over Bank of America acquisition of Merrill Lynch

WASHINGTON — House lawmakers on Tuesday said they have subpoenaed the Federal Reserve to hand over e-mails, notes and other documents related to its role in Bank of America Corp.’s acquisition of Merrill Lynch & Co.

Amid investigation, Indiana congressman temporarily gives up key duty of powerful subcommittee

WASHINGTON — Rep. Pete Visclosky, the chairman of a powerful House appropriations subcommittee, said Tuesday he is handing off control of a key spending bill, the latest sign his ties to a troubled lobbying firm are weakening his standing in Congress.

Amid investigation, Rep. Visclosky temporarily gives up key duty of powerful subcommittee

WASHINGTON — Rep. Pete Visclosky, the chairman of a powerful House appropriations subcommittee, said Tuesday he is handing off control of a key spending bill, the latest sign his ties to a troubled lobbying firm are weakening his standing in Congress.

NY Yankees trying to block subpoena for team business records, warn of $5M cost to taxpayers

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Yankees officials said Monday that taxpayers would face more than $5 million in document costs if the team is forced to provide internal records sought by lawmakers looking into public financing of the club’s new stadium.

Grand jury subpoenas records of Rep. Visclosky’s campaign committee and congressional office

WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury has subpoenaed a Democratic congressman in a corruption probe, the first concrete indication that a long-simmering Justice Department investigation of a top lobbying firm also has the potential to seriously damage congressional careers.

Federal grand jury subpoenas Visclosky’s offices in investigation of lobbying firm

WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury has subpoenaed records of an Indiana congressman in a criminal probe involving a top lobbying firm that specialized in funneling federal contracts to defense firms.

Politically connected placement agents get subpoenas in NY pay-to-play pension probe

NEW YORK — Investigators probing influence peddling at the state pension fund have subpoenaed a number of politically connected New Yorkers who picked up big paychecks lobbying former officials at the retirement fund.