Documents sought about Tillman's death

Documents soughtabout Tillman's death
SAN FRANCISCO -- A congressional committee on Friday requested documents from the White House and Pentagon describing how and when the Bush administration learned the circumstances of Pat Tillman's death. The House Oversight Committee is investigating why Tillman's family and the public were misled about the circumstances of his death. Tillman, a San Jose native, turned down a lucrative new contract with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals to join the Army following the Sept. 11 attacks. He was killed April 22, 2004, by friendly fire in Afghanistan. Although Pentagon investigators determined quickly that he was killed by his own troops, five weeks passed before the circumstances of his death were made public. During that time, the Army claimed he was killed by enemy fire. Committee Chairman Henry Waxman wrote Friday to White House Counsel Fred Fielding requesting "all documents received or generated by any official in the Executive Office of the President" that relate to Tillman.
Trooper was killedby friendly fire
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Friendly fire apparently killed a New York state trooper as he searched a farmhouse for a suspect in the shooting of a colleague, officials said Friday. Trooper David C. Brinkerhoff, a member of the force's elite mobile response team, was shot in a gunfight Wednesday as he and other troopers went into a Catskill-area farmhouse where the armed suspect had holed up. Although the suspect, Travis Trim, shot Brinkerhoff, "the fatal wound was made by a .223 (caliber) tactical round that was believed to have been fired by an MRT member," said acting State Police Superintendent Preston Felton. Shot along with Brinkerhoff was Trooper Richard Mattson, who was wounded in the left arm and survived. Felton said Friday an autopsy showed that Trim, 23, also was killed in the gunfight, shot once in the face and twice in the chest. "It's our belief he was killed almost instantaneously," he said.
State senator convicted
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Former state Sen. John Ford, a prominent member of a politically powerful family, was convicted Friday of accepting bribes in a statewide corruption investigation. But the federal jury deadlocked on the more serious charge of extortion, creating a mistrial on that count. It also acquitted him of three counts of witness intimidation. Ford, 64, was convicted of accepting 55,000 in bribes and could be sentenced to prison time and a fine. The once-influential state senator left the courtroom surrounded by relatives and refused to comment. His lawyer was expected to talk to reporters later. The prosecution's case depended heavily on giving jurors an up-close look at Ford stuffing his pockets with 100 bills counted one by one by an undercover FBI agent.
Bush, Japanese leader: Dismantle nuclear reactor
CAMP DAVID, Md. -- President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe threatened stronger punitive actions against North Korea on Friday if it reneges on a promise to padlock its sole nuclear reactor. "Our patience is not unlimited," said Bush, standing beside Abe at the Camp David presidential retreat where they stressed the strength of U.S.-Japan relations. Eager to show that the two nations stand united against Pyongyang, Abe said, "Should the North Koreans fail to keep their promise, we will step up our pressures on North Korea, and on that point again I believe we see eye-to-eye." In February, North Korea pledged during six-party talks with the United States, Japan, China, Russia and South Korea to shut down its reactor by April 14, a deadline that passed almost two weeks ago. North Korea says it is waiting to receive some 25 million in funds frozen after Washington blacklisted a Macau bank for alleged complicity in North Korean money laundering and counterfeiting.
Judge says couple should see 'common sense'
ELIZABETH, N.J. -- A judge handling the contentious divorce of the nation's first openly gay governor and his estranged wife urged them on Friday to use "common sense" during their split. Judge Karen Cassidy also called former Gov. James E. McGreevey's sexual orientation insignificant to the case. The courtroom session with McGreevey and Dina Matos McGreevey was their first public appearance together since he resigned and told the world he was "a gay American" more than two years ago. Just before the hearing started, McGreevey approached his wife as she sat between her lawyers and shook her hand. He spoke and she acknowledged him; the encounter lasted a matter of seconds. At the hearing, which followed a private meeting with lawyers, the judge said the couple had agreed to continue their current visitation arrangements for their only child, 5-year-old Jacqueline.
Associated Press
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