OH WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE:

Harkin orders probe; 'mole' found (THOMAS BEAUMONT and JANE NORMAN, 09/27/2002Des Moines Register)

Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin announced Thursday night that his re-election campaign had hired a lawyer to investigate what the attorney considered the legal but "unacceptable" conduct of Harkin's campaign staff.

The move came just hours after a former Harkin congressional aide emerged as the person suspected of recording a meeting between Greg Ganske, Harkin's Republican opponent, and two dozen of Ganske's supporters.

Taping suspect backed Harkin (Kathie Obradovich, Quad City Times)

A Des Moines Democrat who publicly supported U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, has asked for immunity from prosecution before he talks to police about allegations that he taped a closed-door meeting of Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Ganske's Senate campaign.

Des Moines police Detective Bill Boggs confirmed Thursday that police are investigating allegations that Brian Conley of Des Moines was the person who claimed responsibility for the taping in an anonymous statement released Wednesday by a Des Moines attorney.

IOWA SENATOR TOM HARKIN COMMENTS ON SENATE PASSAGE OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM (March 20, 2002)

"I've worked long and hard for campaign finance reform. For years, Iowans have been telling Washington that campaigns go on too long, are too negative, and that special interests have too much influence. I couldn't agree more.

It's a great pleasure to see the sanctimonious Mr. Harkin hoist on his own petard. Posted by Orrin Judd at September 27, 2002 8:54 PM