News

As the Presidential Inaugural Committee heads into the homestretch ahead of Inauguration Day, it has updated its list of bundlers for the inauguration, disclosing the names of 216 bundlers, who together have raised $27.8 million. We've updated our chart to reflect the change.

Edwin Meese III, attorney general under President Reagan, and Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) have an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal this morning drawing attention to a little-known piece of Attorney General-designee Eric Holder's time in the Clinton administration - the so-called "Holder Memorandum." The pair write, "this memo changed Justice Department policy regarding the formerly unquestioned right to counsel and to confidential communication with one's counsel." Calling the policy "unconsitut

According to the Washington Post's 44 blog, Susan Tierney, an energy and economics consultant with Boston-based Analysis Group, is expected to be named deputy secretary of energy. Tierney served as assistant secretary of energy for policy under President Clinton, and is a member of the Obama transition team.

The incoming Transportation secretary's hearing has been postponed until next week, says the Washington Post's 44 blog. The paper reported this morning that LaHood, a recently retired Republican Representative from Illinois, has ties to an indicted figure in the Blagojevich scandal, and sponsored earmarks benefitting campaign donors.

Bundlers for the inauguration have been responsible for raising nearly 80 percent of the $35.3 million the Presidential Inaugural Committee has disclosed receiving, mostly by funneling high-dollar contributions of $25,000 or more to the committee, according to our latest analysis, which has more details.

Several sources are reporting that Obama has picked his technology advisor Julius Genachowski to head up the Federal Communications Commission. Genachowski and Obama were classmates at Harvard Law.

Incoming Treasury secretary Tim Geithner is facing questions over reports that he owed more than $40,000 in back taxes and employed a domestic worker who did not have proper immigration papers.

The PIC has released new information, including the names behind about 5,600 donations, totaling $56.3 $35.3 million. Also disclosed were the names of 211 bundlers, who have raised $27.6 million. (More after the jump).

According to the Politico, Obama has nominated Bill Corr, the executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, to be deputy secretary of health and human services. The Politico noted back in November that Corr, also a member of Obama's transition team, was a registered lobbyist as recently as September.

The latest release shows 208 inaugural bundlers raising $26.5 million.

One bundler, Desiree Rogers, has been dropped from the list released by the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Rogers, the incoming White House social secretary, previously was listed as raising $50,000 for the PIC ad had raised at least $200,000 for the campaign.

See the chart for details on the remaining bundlers.