Hello,
Slow news day, I thought I'd let you know that today the Wyoming GOP is picking the 3 names to submit to the governor for the departed Craig Thomas' seat. The Wyoming GOP just can't leave the Culture of Corruption well enough alone, as their leading vote-getter for the empty seat so far is Tom Sansonetti, former assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice's environment and natural resources division.
As you may know, former #2 man at the Dept. of the Interior, Stephen Griles was recently convicted for perjury, and now he is asking the judge for amnesty, he wants a lobbying job at a buddies Astroturf firm called the American Recreation Coalition as community service.
Well Sansonetti wrote to Griles sentencing judge urging they give him a lobbying job instead of prison.
Here is the Casper Star Tribune story on the letter
Sansonetti wrote, where he notes what a Saint and public servant Sansonetti is. According to Griles' sentencing memo, he is not at this point cooperating with investigators, which I believe is a prerequisite under the sentencing guidlines Sansonetti's former employer developed. Emptywheel at the Last Hurrah wrote a good article about the sentencing of Stephen Griles (with a link to the sentencing memo) I'll refer you to.
Of course this brings up the question of whether Sansonetti is looking out for the public or for his buddies best interests (don't answer).
You'll see that Wyoming's Representative Barbara Cubin also wrote a letter, she has her own Abramoff problems, she was given access to his skyboxes and catering service for fundraisers at no charge, for reasons that have never been fully investigated as far as I know.
The Casper Star Tribune is following the WY-GOP selection process and here is a link to their blog where they are
following the WY GOP voting:
http://www.casperstartribune.net/...