Ashcroft Straddles Two Sides on Radio Merger Debate “Former Attorney General John Ashcroft, who sent a letter this week to his successor Alberto Gonzales blasting the proposed merger of Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., approached XM in the days after the merger was announced offering the firm his consulting services, a spokesman for XM said Saturday. The spokesman said XM declined Mr. Ashcroft’s offer to work as a lobbyist for the company. Mr. Ashcroft was subsequently hired by the National Association of Broadcasters, which is fiercely opposed to the merger.” (The Wall Street Journal, sub. req.)Extra Week Likely for Libby Jurors “Jurors in the perjury trial of ex-White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby still have work to do and expect to deliberate into next week. Earlier Thursday, it appeared the seven women and four men were handcrafting their own visual aids to help sort out the complicated case. Jurors asked for a large flip chart, masking tape, Post-it notes and pictures of the witnesses almost immediately after beginning deliberations last week. Late Wednesday afternoon, they emerged to ask the judge for large, easel-sized pages that can be stuck on walls. ” (Asssociated Press)
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