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KL shares open lower Posted: 29 Jul 2013 06:52 PM PDT Bursa Malaysia opened lower in early trading today on lack of buying momentum, dealers said. Five minutes into trading, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) stood at 1,798.51, down 0.28 of a point. HwangDBS Vickers Research said the benchmark FBM KLCI might attempt to stage a recovery and climb above the psychological mark of 1,800 ahead after slipping 8.8 points to settle at 1,799 yesterday. "It is going to be a test of resilience for our Malaysian bourse today," it said in a note today. Wall Street posted a weak overnight performance with key US stock indices down between 0.2 per cent and 0.4 per cent at the closing bell mainly dragged by a drop in pending home sales. On the scoreboard, the Plantation Index eased 8.06 points to 8,394.70, the Industrial Index fell 21.41 points to 3,071.41, and the Finance Index dropped 28.36 points to 17,230.23. The FBM Emas Index went down 9.10 points to 12,537.10, the FBM100 Index eased 6.6 points to 12,278.66, the FBM 70 Index decreased 42.83 points to 14,454.78 and the FBM ACE Index was down 3.3 points to 5,080.53. Gainers outpaced losers by 114 to 42, with 913 counters unchanged, 557 untraded and 72 others suspended. Turnover amounted to 50.402 million shares worth RM34.098 million. Among actives, Tanco Holdings and Asia Media Group were up by half-a-sen to 19 sen and 15.5 sen respectively while Flonic Hi-Tec, Dialog Group and Ariantec Global were flat at 13 sen, RM3.02 and eight sen respectively. Mewly-listed Sona Petroleum opened at 41 sen, a discount from its offer price of 50 sen with 16.786 million shares changing hands. Among heavyweights, Axiata, Maxis and Petronas Chemicals were flat at RM6.82, RM7.09 and RM6.60 respectively while Maybank and CIMB fell six sen and 11 sen to RM10.64 and RM8.20 respectively.-- Bernama

Ringgit opens lower against US dollar Posted: 29 Jul 2013 06:54 PM PDT The ringgit opened lower against the US dollar today on lack of buying demand, a dealer said. At 9.10am today, the local unit was quoted at 3.2330/2360 to a US dollar from 3.2240/2280 at Monday's close. He said investors were cautious ahead of the outcome of the US Federal Reserve meeting scheduled tomorrow. "The meeting will unveil policy decisions on the tapering of the stimulus," he said. Meanwhile, the Malaysian ringgit was mostly lower against other major currencies. It depreciated against the Singapore dollar to 2.5493/5537 from 2.5466/5508 at yesterday's close and fell against the yen to 3.2973/3010 from 3.2905/2949 previously. However, the domestic currency improved versus the British pound to 4.9588/9647 from 4.9643/9718 on Monday but was traded lower against the euro at 4.2870/2916 from 4.2821/2887.-- Bernama

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Pope Francis says gays should not be judged - Los Angeles Times Posted: 29 Jul 2013 08:12 AM PDT RIO DE JANEIRO — His first overseas trip behind him, Pope Francis has made conciliatory remarks about the roles of gays and women in the Roman Catholic Church and allowed that the troubled Vatican bank may have to be shut down altogether. In comments to reporters aboard the flight that on Monday returned him to Rome from Rio de Janeiro, the pope said that he opposed any type of lobby that might try to influence his decisions. He was responding to a question about the so-called gay lobby inside the Vatican that some officials have alleged exists as a cabal of gay priests who run the Holy See. He said it was important to distinguish between a lobby, which he did not approve of, and priests or other Catholics who might be gay. PHOTOS: Pope Francis visits Brazil "If a person is gay, seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?" Francis said. "They should not be marginalized." The church has traditionally labeled homosexuality a "disorder," and under Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned in February, men with "deep-seated tendencies" towards homosexuality were to be barred from the priesthood. Francis' comments seemed to back away from an absolute ban. On women, he repeated the church position that they cannot be priests. "The door is closed" on that issue, he said. However, he added women should not be "limited to being altar girls" and should be given expanded administrative roles in the church. The pope spoke for nearly an hour and a half with the journalists, the first free-wheeling press conference of his papacy. On the scandal-plagued Vatican bank, suspected of being used to launder millions of dollars, Francis said he would heed the advice of a five-member special oversight committee. But he said he did not know whether the bank could be saved or must be closed. "Whatever the solution, it must have transparency and honesty," Francis said. Journalists onboard the flight described the pope as witty, comfortable and surprisingly frank. Earlier, in an interview with the O Globo broadcasting network in Rio, he again voiced support for young demonstrators who have been protesting excessive government spending and the lack of education and health services. "A young person who does not protest, I do not like," the pope said. ALSO: Wave of car bombs in Iraq kills dozens Russia: President Vladimir Putin catches a really big fish Israel, Palestinians to meet in U.S. after vote to free prisoners

Scores arrested in child prostitution crackdown - CNN Posted: 29 Jul 2013 08:46 AM PDT STORY HIGHLIGHTS An FBI operation rescues 105 children across the country The ages of the children involved range from 13 to 17 Washington (CNN) -- In a major crackdown on child prostitution, the FBI announced Monday that 150 arrests have been made in Operation Cross Country, and 105 children have been rescued nationwide. The ages of the children involved ranged from 13 to 17, CNN's Joe Johns reported. Authorities said the operation, which took investigators to race tracks and truck stops, also targeted the use of social media sites for child prostitution activity. Overall, the roundup took place in 76 cities and involved 230 law enforcement units, according to authorities. 0 Comments » SHARE THIS Print Email More sharing

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Obama to visit Malaysia in October Posted: 28 Jul 2013 06:42 PM PDT US President Barack Obama will travel to Malaysia for an October summit, said deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes. Obama will attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Rhodes said today in a message on the social networking site Twitter. The two-day summit is scheduled for October 11-12.-- Bloomberg

KL bourse rises in early trade Posted: 28 Jul 2013 06:36 PM PDT Malaysia's benchmark stock index rose in early trade, driven by gains in lender Hong Leong Bank Bhd and petrol stations operator Petronas Dagangan Bhd. The index, which was up 0.03 per cent at 1,808.18 at 9.13am in Kuala Lumpur, underperformed MSCI's broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan that rose 0.22 per cent, while it outperformed Tokyo's Nikkei share average that fell 1.69 per cent. Shares of Hong Leong Bank rose 1.12 per cent, while Petronas Dagangan climbed 1.04 per cent. "As investors wait for fresh market leads to emerge, our Malaysian bourse will likely range-bound for the time being," HwangDBS Vickers Research said in a research note to clients on Monday. "Its benchmark index may continue to tread above the psychological support line of 1,800 ahead," it added. HwangDBS also said investors will watch Coastal Contracts Bhd after the marine services firm announced it secured contracts for the sale of vessels for the oil & gas industry with a combined value of RM425 million. Coastal Contracts' shares were up 2.46 per cent at RM2.91 at 9.14am.-- Reuters

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Anthony Weiner vows to stay in NYC mayor's race - USA TODAY Posted: 28 Jul 2013 09:24 AM PDT Anthony Weiner vowed Sunday to stay in the New York City mayor's race, even as his top rival said he was not qualified to lead the nation's most populous city. Weiner, campaigning in Brooklyn, confirmed that campaign manager Danny Kedem quit after new revelations that Weiner continued to send salacious messages online to women, even after resigning from Congress in 2011. "We knew this would be a tough campaign," Weiner said. "We have an amazing staff, but this isn't about the people working on the campaign. It's about the people we're campaigning for." The tumult in Weiner's staff was first reported by The New York Times. Hours later, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn repeated criticism on NBC's Meet the Press that Weiner has displayed "reckless behavior" and "immaturity." Quinn, who has a 9-point lead over Weiner, went beyond those comments when pressed if Weiner had disqualified himself by admitting he continued to send lewd messages to women after he resigned from Congress in 2011. As she noted her accomplishments on the City Council, Quinn pointed out that Weiner only managed to get one bill passed during his 12 years in Congress. "Has he disqualified himself? Yes, he disqualified himself but not just because of these scandals," Quinn said. "He didn't have the qualifications when he was in Congress." Weiner revealed Thursday he sent explicit texts to as many as 10 women, including three after he left Congress. They apparently include Sydney Leathers, 23, of Princeton, Ind., who revealed that Weiner had sent nude photographs to her -- and that they engaged in phone sex -- months after his resignation. Weiner has steadfastly rebuffed calls that he quit the mayor's race, which have come from rivals such as Bill de Blasio and top Democratic leaders such as national party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Kedem was hired earlier this summer, just a few weeks ahead of Weiner's surprise announcement that he would attempt a political comeback after his sexting scandal. The news rocked the mayor's race and Weiner immediately soared to the top of public opinion polls, either coming ahead of Quinn or finishing a close second to her in the field of seven Democrats. Kedem was a field organizer for Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2008 presidential camapign and managed Democrat Mark Murphy's unsuccessful congressional bid last year against GOP Rep. Michael Grimm on Staten Island. While Quinn repeated Sunday that it is ultimately up to New York City voters to decide Weiner's fate, there appears to be a division among those who would weigh in on the Democratic primary. Forty-three percent of Democratic primary voters say Weiner should quit the race, while 47% say he should continue running for mayor, according to the survey released Thursday by NBC 4 New York, The Wall Street Journal and the Marist Instiitute for Public Opinion. Party primaries are Sept. 10. If no candidate gets more than 40% of the vote, a runoff will be held Oct. 1. Contributing: Associated Press

Israel Agrees to Prisoner Release, Clearing Way for Talks - New York Times Posted: 28 Jul 2013 09:17 AM PDT By ISABEL KERSHNER Published: July 28, 2013 JERUSALEM — The Israeli cabinet cleared the last obstacle to resuming peace talks with the Palestinians by voting on Sunday to approve the release of 104 Palestinian prisoners. The prisoner release is an unpopular move with many Israelis, but one that the Palestinian leadership has insisted upon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu worked over the weekend to persuade Israelis that a resumption of the peace process was a vital Israeli interest. After hours of deliberations on Sunday, 13 ministers voted in favor, 7 opposed the release and 2 abstained. The prisoners, most of whom have served at least 20 years for deadly attacks on Israelis, are to be released in batches depending on progress in the talks. "This moment is not easy for me," Mr. Netanyahu said, according to a statement from his office. "It is not easy for the ministers. It is not easy especially for the families, the bereaved families, whose heart I understand. But there are moments in which tough decisions must be made for the good of the country, and this is one of those moments." Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, described the decision in a statement as "an overdue step toward the implementation of the Sharm el-Sheik agreement of 1999." "We welcome this decision, 14 years later," he said. As the cabinet meeting got under way, scores of Israeli protesters gathered outside the prime minister's office, including people whose relatives were killed in terrorist acts. The protesters carried signs bearing the names and portraits of some of the victims. "It rips our heart out that they are aiding and abetting the terrorists," said Yehudit Tayar, one of the protesters. Mr. Netanyahu will lead a team of five ministers who will oversee the release of Palestinian prisoners during the negotiations, which are expected to get underway in Washington on Tuesday. But he deferred any public decision on whether those to be released would include Arab citizens of Israel, a long-standing point of dispute, saying that any such release would be brought to another cabinet vote. On Saturday evening, Mr. Netanyahu took the unusual step of issuing what he called "an open letter to the citizens of Israel" to explain the contentious move. The letter gave no details about who would be released or when. Mr. Netanyahu began his letter, which was posted on the prime minister's Web site and disseminated through the Israeli news media, with an acknowledgment of the unpopularity of the gesture, which many Israelis view as a painful concession with nothing guaranteed in return. The letter noted that the decision "is painful for the bereaved families, it is painful for the entire nation, and it is also very painful for me — it collides with the incomparably important value of justice." On Friday, Yediot Aharonot, an Israeli newspaper, published an impassioned open letter to Mr. Netanyahu from Abie Moses, whose pregnant wife and 5-year-old son, Tal, were fatally burned in a firebomb attack on their car in April 1987. Mr. Moses said that faced with the likely release of their killer, Mohammad Adel Hassin Daoud, "the wounds have reopened; the memories, which we live with on a daily basis, turn into physical pain, in addition to the emotional pain of coping daily with the nightmare." Mr. Moses added, "In our opinion, if his release will lead to attaining of peace, let him be released outside the boundaries of Palestine, exiled and never allowed to see his family members again, just as we cannot see ours." Over the years, thousands of Palestinian prisoners have been exchanged for Israeli soldiers who had been taken captive, or for the bodies of abducted soldiers. During his previous term in office, Mr. Netanyahu reached an agreement with Hamas, the Islamist militant group that governs Gaza, and exchanged more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier who had been held captive in Gaza for five years. An Israeli government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said many of those who remained in Israeli jails, like the 104 now chosen for early release, had been involved in particularly gruesome acts. "The goal here is to augment the political dialogue with confidence-building measures," the official said. The prisoner issue is the one that has inflamed passions on both sides. Palestinians view these long-serving prisoners, convicted before the signing of the Oslo peace accords in 1993, as political prisoners and freedom fighters whose release is long overdue. A Palestinian official involved in the negotiations process, who could speak only on the condition of anonymity because of the delicate diplomacy under way, said the Palestinian side had given a list of all 104 pre-Oslo prisoners to Mr. Kerry, who conveyed it to the Israelis. "This is the biggest achievement we will have had this year," the Palestinian official said. He said the first group was expected to be released in August, and the rest within six months. Alyza Sebenius contributed reporting.

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Egyptian Army gives Islamists deadline as huge rallies loom - Charlotte Observer Posted: 25 Jul 2013 05:55 PM PDT CAIRO The Egyptian Army gave supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi until Saturday to join the "national ranks" or face an expected crackdown, while potentially huge rival rallies have been called for Friday by the military and Islamists. "The general commander of the armed forces has given a 48-hour deadline for a backdown and to join the national ranks," the army said in a statement late Thursday, quoted by the state-run Middle East News Agency, without explicitly naming Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood. In the statement, titled the "last chance," the army said that after the mass rallies called by army chief Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi on Friday, the military would adopt a new strategy against "violence and ... terrorism." "The armed forces and police will not allow any infringement of national security whatever sacrifices are." Al-Sissi, who led Morsi's overthrow on July 3, has called on Egyptians to take to the streets to give the army a mandate to crack down on "violence and terrorism." In Sinai, two army soldiers were killed Thursday in an attack on a border post, the state-run newspaper al-Ahram reported online. Four other soldiers were wounded in the latest in a series of attacks in the peninsula, which borders Israel and the Gaza Strip. Islamist insurgents are believed to be responsible. Meanwhile, Hesham Qandil, Morsi's last premier, has proposed a three-phase plan to ease the country's deep crisis. In a video message released Thursday, he called for freeing key Islamists detained since Morsi's toppling, and allowing an unspecified team to visit the Islamist leader, who is in army custody, to make sure he is in good health. Qandil, who was named prime minister in August 2012, suggested that sides of the crisis agree on "general principles whose details can be negotiated later." "Then comes the third phase of this initiative, namely details of the roadmap that should fulfill legitimacy and listen to the people's voice," he said, without elaborating. A roadmap, announced by the army following Morsi's ouster, envisages amending a controversial constitution drafted by Islamists and holding parliamentary and presidential elections. The Brotherhood and allied Islamists have rejected both the formula and the military-backed government. Brotherhood chief Mohammed Badie has compared the army's overthrow of Morsi to an attack on Islam's holiest site, calling on supporters of the Islamist group to stage mass rallies Friday against what he called "the bloody military coup." "I swear by God that what al-Sissi did in Egypt exceeds the enormity of his clutching an axe and destroying the holy Kaaba one stone after the other," Badie said, referring to the holy site in Mecca, where Muslim pilgrims go on hajj. Badie appeared to appeal to the religious sentiment of Brotherhood supporters in a verbal escalation against the military. He urged al-Sissi to repent or risk "shame in this life and exquisite torture in the hereafter," quoting verses from the Koran, in a message posted on the Brotherhood website. Badie was last seen in public on July 6. Several arrest warrants have been issued against him on charges of inciting violence. He is believed to be hiding in a mosque in Cairo where Morsi loyalists have been protesting for four weeks. Morsi's supporters and opponents plan rival mass demonstrations Friday, raising fears of violence. Dozens of people have been killed in clashes since the army removed Morsi after millions protested to demand he step down. The National Salvation Front, a major anti-Islamist alliance, has called on Egyptians to turn out in large numbers in response to al-Sissi's call. The bloc said in a statement: "The Brotherhood supporters have gone too far in triggering national divisions and crossed the red line by calling for defections and splits in the army." The Brotherhood has condemned Morsi's removal as a coup and vowed to continue protesting until he is restored to office.

Tragedy in Hialeah: 7 dead in hostage standoff - MiamiHerald.com Posted: 27 Jul 2013 07:06 AM PDT A hostage standoff and shootout left seven people dead Saturday at a Hialeah apartment building as investigators worked to piece together what happened. The violence started about 6:30 p.m. Friday, when building managers Italo and Samira Pisciotti went to speak with a fourth-floor tenant who lived with his mother, according to police and witnesses. The tenant fired about 15 to 20 shots at the Pisciottis, killing them. Italo was 78, Samira was 68. The unidentified shooter killed two other men and two other women by the time Hialeah SWAT moved in Saturday morning. Tactical officers stormed the building, shooting the gunman dead as he threatened to kill hostages. "At the time, the suspect was holding at least two hostages at gunpoint," police spokesman Carl Zogby said. All seven victims died on the scene at 46th Street and West 16th Avenue. No officers were hurt, Zogby said. "I saw my mother's dead body," said Shamira Pisciotti, who lives in a unit at the building her parents managed. "She died the moment she was shot, but it looks like my dad was still alive after he was shot." Pisciotti said her parents had gone to speak with the shooter about a complaint he had filed. "It seems like he was the one who shot my mom and my dad," she said. Friends and family at the scene identified one of the other victims as Carlos Gavilanez, who they said was 30 years old and married with two children. Gavilanez did not appear to be related to the Pisciottis. Another resident, Mirian Valdes, 70, said the Pisciottis had previously attempted to evict the tenant and tried to do so again on Friday. At least one of the victims lived in an apartment across the street from the main scene. Hialeah Sgt. Eddie Rodriguez said that man was walking into his building when the gunman fired at him from a balcony. The shooter holed himself up in a fifth-floor unit with two hostages. Talks between the gunman and police negotiators broke down about 2 a.m. Saturday, Rodriguez said, which is when SWAT went in. "We had a shootout, and we rescued both hostages," Rodriguez said. By mid-morning Saturday, dozens of police from Hialeah and other agencies surrounded the building, looking for clues and interviewing witnesses. Authorities were keeping cars from entering the area while media helicopters flew overhead. The apartment building houses about 90 families. Neighbor Claribel Dominguez said she heard the gunshots Friday and couldn't go to bed. "I haven't slept all night," she said

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US stocks narrowly in the black Posted: 26 Jul 2013 05:24 PM PDT NEW YORK: US stocks Friday rallied from intraday lows, picking up momentum after a dreary open and ending the day narrowly in the black. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.22 (0.02 per cent) to 15,558.83. The Dow sank as low as 15,405.16 earlier in the session. The broad-based S&P 500 finished 1.40 (0.08 per cent) higher at 1,691.65, while the Nasdaq Composite Index put on 7.97 (0.22 per cent) at 3,613.16. Analysts said volume was low as is typical for a Friday in late July. The day was fairly light in economic news and corporate earnings results. Trade once again revealed the "resilience" of equity markets, said David Levy, a portfolio manager at Kenjol Capital Management. "Buyers are buying the dip," Levy said, calling the dynamic a "very bullish" pattern. Starbucks surged 7.6 per cent higher after earnings jumped 25 per cent on strong increases in comparable-store sales, including a 9 per cent rise in the US. Online travel booking company Expedia plummeted 27.4 per cent after earnings of 64 cents per share lagged analyst expectations by 18 cents. Revenues also fell short of estimates. Online game developer Activision Blizzard shot up 15.0 per cent after announcing a pair of transactions in which the company and an investor group led by the company's chief executive and co-chairman would purchase from Vivendi a total of more than US$8 billion worth of shares. Vivendi will no longer be the majority shareholder following the transactions. Dow component Boeing dipped 1.0 per cent on news that Qatar Airways reportedly had grounded a 787 Dreamliner aircraft and All Nippon Airways had found minor damage on two emergency beacons on another 787. Online bookseller Amazon reversed early losses and ended 2.8 per cent higher despite reporting a US$7 million quarterly loss. But revenues met expectations, leaping 22 per cent to US$15.7 billion. Oil-services giant Halliburton jumped 3.7 per cent after announcing plans to hold a modified "Dutch auction" to repurchase up to US$3.3 billion in shares. The announcement came as the Justice Department announced Halliburton agreed to plead guilty to destroying evidence related to the Deepwater Horizon oil-spill disaster. Halliburton said it would pay a US$200,000 fine in the settlement. - AFP

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Ariel Castro pleads guilty in Ohio abductions - USA TODAY Posted: 26 Jul 2013 08:41 AM PDT Ariel Castro, charged with the abduction of three women in Cleveland, pleaded guilty Friday in a deal with prosecutors that could spare him the death penalty. The deal called for life in prison without the chance for parole plus 1,000 years. The judge in the case will hand down the final sentence on Aug. 1. Castro, a former school bus driver who turned 53 earlier this month, pleaded guilty to 937 criminal counts, including kidnapping, rape and aggravated murder. By accepting a plea deal, the three victims in the case -- Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight -- will not have to testify in court. Castro appeared in court Friday morning shackled and wearing his orange prison jump suit, a full beard and glasses and looked around the courtroom. As the hearing got underway, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Michael Russo asked Castro if he got his glasses and whether they were OK. Castro replied: "Yes it is, your honor, thank you." The judge asked Castro if he had read the plea agreement, discussed it with his lawyers, were aware of its contents and consented to its terms. "I am fully aware," he replied. Asked if he understood that there would be no trial, he answered, "I am aware of it." He spoke clearly as he answered each of the judge's questions. "My addiction to pornography and sexual addiction in general has taken a toll on my mind," he told the judge. "I would like to state I was a victim as a child and it just kept going." When the judge told him he would be classified as a sexually violent predator, he said he understood, but disagreed with the classification that he is violent. He also said that he told his lawyers when he was arrested that he would fully cooperate with the FBI and "tell them everything." Castro pleaded guilty to abducting the three young women over an 11-year period, holding them hostage in his home and raping them repeatedly. He had pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing. The final decision on sentencing is up to Judge Russo. Judges often follow the terms of a plea deal, but are not bound by it. Trial was set for Aug. 5. Castro was arrested May 6 after Berry escaped from her room and began shouting at the front door, alerting neighbors. Police then found the other two women inside the rundown, four-bedroom home. The abductions extended over an 11 years period, beginning with Knight's kidnapping in 2002. Berry has a 6-year-old daughter who was born inside the rundown, two-story home where she was held. DNA tests showed that Castro is the father. The two aggravated murder charges stem from a single instance during the fourth pregnancy of Knight, who was the first woman to disappear. One aggravated murder charge alleges premeditation. The second alleges that the murder took place during a kidnapping. The indictment covers the entire period of captivity, from the Aug. 22, 2002, disappearance of Knight to May 6, when Berry, missing since April 21, 2003, and her child escaped Castro's house and led police to Knight and Gina DeJesus, missing since April 2, 2004.

Weiner's wife Huma Abedin under scrutiny over two jobs - CBS News Posted: 26 Jul 2013 07:54 AM PDT Former Rep. Anthony Weiner's wife Huma Abedin -- already under the microscope because of her husband's lewd behavior -- is facing tough questions from a senator concerned about the nature of her employment at the State Department. Abedin, a longtime aide to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, worked for a little under a year as a "special government employee" for the State Department. During that period in 2012, she was also working as a consultant for a private firm called Teneo, giving private investors information about the government. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, last month sent the State Department a letter inquiring about Abedin's two jobs. It has been reported that Ms. Abedin earned approximately $135,000 from the State Department while receiving $355,000 in consulting income for representing outside clients, as she remained a Federal employee and a trusted advisor to Secretary Clinton," Grassley wrote. "This raises important questions about whether her dual role was adequately disclosed to government officials who may have provided her information without realizing that she was being paid by private investors to gather information." Grassley asked the State Department and Abedin to respond to 17 questions, as well as a request for all documents relating to communications between the State Department and Teneo, or clients represented by Teneo. The State Department and Abedin responded, giving the specific dates of her employment and confirming that she read State Department ethics guidelines before becoming a "special government employee." They also explained that Abedin, as a State Department employee, "advised" Clinton and supervised the operations of her travel and schedule. Nevertheless, Grassley said in a statement Friday that neither the State Department nor Abedin has handed over any of the documents he requested. "The purpose of my inquiry is to shed light on whether the program is being used as intended, not just by Ms. Abedin, but more broadly, as well," he said. "The State Department and Ms. Abedin should be willing to show the documents involved in administering the program to demonstrate good stewardship of tax dollars and the public interest... Putting up a stone wall raises a lot more questions about how the program is being used than it answers."

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