WASHINGTON

PROSECUTOR SUBPOENAS BANK RECORDS IN DELAY INVESTIGATION

A Texas prosecutor has issued subpoenas for bank records of a defense contractor involved in the bribery case of a California congressman as part of the investigation of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

District Attorney Ronnie Earle issued subpoenas last Thursday for California businessmen Brent Wilkes and Max Gelwix, records of Perfect WaveTechnologies, Wilkes Corporation and ADCS Incorporated in connection with a contribution to a fundraising committee at the center of the investigation that led to Mr. DeLay’s indictment money-laundering charges. Perfect Wave contributed $15,000 in September 2002 to Texans for a Republican Majority, a fund-raising committee founded by Mr. DeLay.

– Associated Press

SENATOR LEVIN TRYING TO BLOCK BUSH’S PENTAGON SPOKESMAN NOMINEE

President Bush’s nominee for chief Pentagon spokesman appeared in jeopardy yesterday, with a senior Democrat leaving open the possibility of blocking it.

J. Dorrance Smith, the nominee, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee in a closed session to answer questions about an opinion article in which he accused American television networks of helping terrorists through their partnerships with Al Jazeera.

The article has sparked concern among committee members, and has prompted Senator Carl Levin, a democrat of Michigan, to pledge to defeat Mr. Smith’s nomination to be the assistant secretary of defense for public affairs.

“I have deep concerns about whether or not he should be representing the United States government and the Department of Defense with that kind of attitude and approach,” Mr. Levin said after yesterday’s hearing.

– Associated Press

WEST

PRESIDENT FORD RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif.- President Ford was released yesterday evening from the hospital after what his chief of staff called routine medical tests. Mr. Ford, 92, was admitted to Eisenhower Medical Center late Monday.

“He’s in for medical tests, routine tests,” spokeswoman Penny Circle said by telephone from Mr. Ford’s Rancho Mirage office about 110 miles from Los Angeles. “He’s had a horrible cold and he still hasn’t gotten over it.”

Ms. Circle said those tests are scheduled each December. She did not release other details. – Associated Press

MAN CHARGED WITH PLOTTING OREGON TERRORIST CAMP

A Lebanese-born Swede has been charged in a plot to set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday. A criminal complaint charging Oussama Kassir with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists was unsealed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, U.S. Attorney Michael J. Garcia said in a release.

Mr. Kassir, 39, was arrested in Prague, Czech Republic, on Sunday after a warrant was filed with Interpol, Mr. Garcia said. He remains detained in Prague as America pursues his extradition.

– Associated Press