wade, mitchell
<p><strong>February 17, 2005:</strong> Mistrial declared in first
Medicare fraud trial against San Diego's Alvarado Hospital, after jury
fails to reach a verdict. U.S. Attorney Carol Lam suggests a retrial is
likely.
<strong>March 2, 2005:</strong> Attorney
General Alberto Gonzales' Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson emails White House
Counsel Harriet Miers, recommending removal of Carol Lam and several
others as "weak U.S. Attorneys who have been ineffectual managers and
prosecutors, chafed against Administration initiatives, etc."
<strong>June 12, 2005:</strong> Front-page story in <em>The San Diego Union Tribune</em>
reveals that a defense contractor paid an inflated price for Rep. Duke
Cunningham's San Diego-area house. Within days, U.S. Attorney Carol Lam
launches an investigation.
<strong>November 28, 2005:</strong> Cunningham pleads guilty to accepting $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors. He resigns his congressional seat.
<strong>March 3, 2006:</strong> Cunningham is sentenced to eight years, four months in prison.
<strong>April 4, 2006:</strong>
Mistrial declared in second Medicare fraud trial against San Diego's
Alvarado Hospital, after jury fails to reach a verdict. U.S. Attorney
Carol Lam had personally tried the case.
<strong>Early May, 2006:</strong> U.S. Department of Health and Human Services threatens to cut Medicare and Medicaid funds to San Diego's Alvarado Hospital.
<strong>May 11, 2006:</strong> Front-page story in the <em>Los Angeles Times</em>
reports that the U.S. Attorney's office in Los Angeles is probing ties
between House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA) and
lobbyist Bill Lowery, whose clients include alleged Cunningham
co-conspirator Brent Wilkes.
<strong>May 11, 2006:</strong>
General Alberto Gonzales' Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson e-mails a deputy
in the White House Counsel's office asking to discuss, "The real problem
we have right now with Carol Lam that leads me to conclude that we
should have someone ready to be nominated on 11/18, the day her 4-year
term expires."
</p> <strong>May 12, 2006:</strong> FBI
agents search the home and office of former CIA Executive Director Kyle
Foggo, best friend of alleged Cunningham co-conspirator Brent Wilkes.