Jim McElhatton
Articles by Jim McElhatton
Obama’s surgeon general nominee advises Burger King
President Obama's nominee for surgeon general, whose job it is to help encourage Americans to get thinner and healthier, has been working part time as a scientific adviser to the fast-food giant. Published August 13, 2009
Kaine frees three of ‘Norfolk Four’ sailors
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine added another chapter to the notorious "Norfolk Four" case Thursday by setting free three of four sailors convicted in the killing, weeks after famous courtroom crime novelist John Grisham said he was working on a screenplay and thought the men were innocent. Published August 7, 2009
Congress asked to OK postal cuts
U.S. Postmaster General John E. Potter went to Capitol Hill on Thursday to seek permission to cut a day of mail delivery as the Postal Service faces the worst financial crisis in its 234-year history, and a key lawmaker said Congress may have to rethink its long-standing opposition to the idea. Published August 7, 2009
Postal closings, fewer mail days eyed
The U.S. Postal Service expects to lose more than $7 billion this year as managers consider slashing a day of mail delivery and closing hundreds of post offices across the country to help save money, postal officials said Wednesday. Published August 6, 2009
Senate panel blocks Postal bonuses
U.S. Postal Service executives won't be getting any big bonuses this year unless they figure out how to avoid a looming multibillion-dollar deficit under a measure approved by a Senate committee Wednesday. Published July 30, 2009
FBI arrests over 40 in N.J. corruption probe
Three New Jersey mayors, a state lawmaker who sponsored an anti-corruption bill, five rabbis and a Brooklyn, N.Y., man dubbed the "kidney salesman" were among more than 40 people arrested Thursday in a public corruption probe that one FBI official called "unprecedented." Published July 24, 2009
3 N.J. mayors among 40 people arrested in corruption case
Three New Jersey mayors, a state lawmaker who sponsored an anti-corruption bill, several New York rabbis and a man known as the "kidney salesman" were among more than 40 people arrested Thursday in a public corruption probe that one FBI official called "unprecedented." Published July 23, 2009
Ex-lobbyist gets nod as envoy to Romania
President Obama often boasted on the campaign trail that "lobbyists won't find a job in my White House," but he never mentioned anything about embassies. One need look no further than Mr. Obama's choice for ambassador to Romania to see why. Published July 23, 2009
Devastating deception costs a couple
With mortgage fraud rising sharply across the U.S., there are many cautionary tales about the pitfalls of a deal too good to pass up. Published July 19, 2009
Campaign-funded clothes violate donation law
Gov. Sarah Palin, Rep. Robert E. Andrews or any other politician tempted to buy clothes on the campaign trail, take note of the government's latest ruling. Published July 17, 2009
Obama donor named ambassador
President Obama criticized the foreign takeover of the famous American brewery Anheuser-Busch last year, saying, "We could have and should have done everything possible to find an American buyer." Published July 9, 2009
Ambassadorship opens books on Steelers’ Rooney
President Obama's choice of Dan Rooney as ambassador to Ireland is providing a rare look into the personal finances of the chairman of a Super Bowl-winning franchise - and also into the often overlapping world of national politics. Published July 8, 2009
Fundraisers win jobs as Obama envoys
President Obama's campaign to bring change to the nation's capital hasn't kept him from continuing the Washington tradition of handing out ambassadorships to political friends and fundraisers. Published July 7, 2009
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. attorney nominee won’t ID all clients
The criminal defense lawyer nominated by President Obama to be the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey is declining to identify more than half of his private clients on government forms designed to help the public guard against potential conflicts of interests. Published June 23, 2009
EXCLUSIVE: Pick for Army chief pushed defense earmarks
Before he was named by President Obama to be the next Army secretary, Rep. John M. McHugh of New York had asked Congress to set aside tens of millions of dollars in next year's budget for defense contractors that now could fall under his command as the Army's civilian leader. Published June 15, 2009
EXCLUSIVE: IRS files $800,000 lien on ‘04 Kerry campaign
The Internal Revenue Service has filed a tax lien seeking more than $800,000 from Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign, escalating a dispute over payroll taxes that the lawmaker's office blames on faulty government paperwork. Published June 3, 2009
Drug dealer avoids jail in daughter’s killing
Frank Howard was an accused child killer. Now he is a federally protected witness. His story provides insight into the little-known deals prosecutors sometimes make to convict high-profile crime figures. Published May 31, 2009
Army lawyer pick faces resume flap
President Obama's nominee to be the U.S. Army's top lawyer worked for years as chief compliance officer at Fannie Mae, where he once suggested suing a federal agency overseeing the troubled mortgage giant, according to public records. Published May 14, 2009
Treasury nominee to keep corporate pay
President Obama's nominee for the Treasury Department's top legal job still can receive almost $3 million in pay over the next three years from one of the nation's largest financial-services companies under a compensation plan approved by government ethics lawyers. Published May 12, 2009
EXCLUSIVE: Union head returns some of $1.2M pay
The president of a maritime workers union reported receiving $1.2 million in compensation last year but abruptly gave back much of the money in April after his big payout was disclosed to the government. Published May 11, 2009
