Espy

WASHINGTON -- Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy apologized yesterday for being "inattentive to the appearance of impropriety" and made public five volumes of documents about the 135 trips he had made since taking office.The records provide information about some trips that have been under scrutiny by federal authorities, but they shed little new light on the question being examined by federal authorities: whether Mr. Espy illegally accepted transportation, lodging and sports tickets from agricultural interests such as Tyson Foods, the nation's largest poultry processor.

Jessica Long has had to overcome obstacles all of her life. The field she had to beat out to win an ESPY on Wednesday night for the Best Female Athlete with a Disability was a tough one, filled with some remarkable athletes. Long, who had to have her legs amputated when she was just 18 months old in Russia where she was born, triumphed once again, winning the award for the second time. The swimmer is the second repeat winner in the award's history. Long grew up in Middle River after emigrating from Russia.

WASHINGTON -- A federal judge has agreed to a request by lawyers for Mike Espy to limit an independent counsel's investigation into accusations against the former secretary of agriculture.And in a separate action, one of the companies that has become embroiled in the investigation, Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale, Ark., has asked Attorney General Janet Reno to dismiss the independent counsel on the ground that he overstepped his legal authority.The independent counsel, Donald C. Smaltz, was appointed in September by a three-judge panel to determine whether Mr. Espy violated the law by accepting football tickets, free travel and other gifts from companies, including Tyson Foods, that pTC were regulated by the Department of Agriculture.

Terrell Suggs may miss part, or possibly all, of the 2012 NFLseason with a torn Achilles tendon, but the praise for his play in 2011 continues to roll in. The Ravens linebacker has been nominated for the ESPY for Best NFL Player. He joins Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the ballot. The winner will be revealed July 11 during the 20th ESPYS. The Arizona State product had 14 sacks a season ago and was named AP Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts.

The Orioles made four roster moves before tonight's game against the Blue Jays, giving them an eye-opening 36 total roster moves involving 20 different players this month. The club optioned struggling RHP Tommy Hunter and slumping rookie OF Xavier Avery to Triple-A Norfolk, while activating outfielder Endy Chavez off the disabled list and purchasing the contract of right-handed reliever Miguel Gonzalez from Norfolk. Hunter's demotion comes a day after he lasted just three innings, the shortest start by any Orioles starter this season.

WASHINGTON -- After one more embarrassing revelation in a mushrooming ethics cloud, Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy announced his resignation yesterday, effective Dec. 31, saying he needed to turn his attention to restoring his "good name."The first African-American to serve as agriculture secretary, Mr. Espy, 40, has been under investigation by an independent counsel for possible federal violations resulting from his acceptance of gifts from individuals and companies that do business with the Agriculture Department.

WASHINGTON -- Attorney General Janet Reno said yesterday that she had asked a panel of federal appeals court judges to appoint an independent counsel to investigate whether Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy illegally accepted travel, lodging, entertainment and other gifts from the country's largest poultry producer.In an application to the special three-judge panel Monday, Ms. Reno said that an initial inquiry showed that further investigation was warranted into Mr. Espy's association with Tyson Foods Inc., the Arkansas-based agricultural empire, and other companies with business before the Agriculture Department.

WASHINGTON -- A week after Mike Espy was sworn in as the nation's first African-American and first Southern agriculture secretary, he was on a plane to the Pacific Northwest, which was reeling from a deadly outbreak of food poisoning from fast-food hamburgers.He met with the families of children who had died, called for reforms of the meat-inspection system and, in a political culture that is fast to anoint heroes and villains, was quickly pegged as a rising star of the Clinton Cabinet.A year and a half later, with the early raves diluted by some disenchantment, the soft-spoken former Mississippi congressman is struggling to hold onto his standing, his integrity, perhaps even his job, as an independent counsel is about to investigate him for cozying up to companies his department oversees.

WASHINGTON -- Mike Espy clearly was wrong when, as secretary of agriculture, he accepted $34,000 worth of sports tickets, luggage, air travel and other gifts from people representing companies that he regulated. Espy himself says that he had "lapses of judgment" in taking gratuities that have brought convictions or huge fines for the gift-givers and some of his associates.Well, why, then, did a jury here find Mr. Espy not guilty on all 30 corruption charges brought against him by independent counsel Donald C. Smaltz?

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- In purely political terms, the resignation under fire of Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy could hardly come at a less auspicious time for President Clinton and the Democratic Party.The White House and party leaders already are well aware that they are on the defensive in the midterm elections five weeks away and likely to suffer substantial losses in the Senate and House of Representatives. And, to a large degree, that prospect has been fueled by the perception of the president himself as less competent and less straightforward than he should be.Now Clinton and other Democrats have been pushed into explaining an ethical lapse by a member of the Cabinet who was particularly prominent as a leading African-American supporter of Clinton in winning the Democratic nomination in 1992.

The Orioles made four roster moves before tonight's game against the Blue Jays, giving them an eye-opening 36 total roster moves involving 20 different players this month. The club optioned struggling RHP Tommy Hunter and slumping rookie OF Xavier Avery to Triple-A Norfolk, while activating outfielder Endy Chavez off the disabled list and purchasing the contract of right-handed reliever Miguel Gonzalez from Norfolk. Hunter's demotion comes a day after he lasted just three innings, the shortest start by any Orioles starter this season.

Royals@Orioles 7:05 p.m. [Ch. 13, MASN] This is the only time that the Royals come to Baltimore, and their arrival raises the obvious question: Will you cheer Robinson Tejeda, or will you boo him? Awards ESPY nominations 8 p.m. [ESPN] Tune in and watch ESPN promote the heck out of itself. Sure, it's out of character. The only thing better than a tired, contrived awards show is the special that precedes it. Enjoy.

Suzanne Lee Espy, Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 8, 11:00 AM at the Jeffrey N. Zumbrun Funeral Home & Monument Company, 6028 Sykesville Road, Eldersburg, MD with the Rev. Don Burgard, pastor of Wards Chapel Church, officiating. Interment will be in Lake View Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 7-9 PM and Thursday from 9:00 AM till time of service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in Suzanne's name to the Hospice at Stella Maris, 2300 Dulaney Valley Road, Timonium, MD 21093 or to Wards Chapel United Methodist Church, 11023 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD 21133.

WASHINGTON -- Today, lawyers for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby will begin their defense of the indicted former White House aide with a parade of witnesses, including prominent journalists, former co-workers and maybe even his old boss, Vice President Dick Cheney. But will Libby testify? Libby and his lawyers face a tough choice about what is normally the make-or-break decision in criminal trials. His unusual defense to perjury charges in the CIA leak case - that he misspoke because he was having to juggle so many other duties as Cheney's chief of staff - would seem to require that he personally take the witness stand to explain it. But if he does testify, Libby risks exposing himself to serious questions about his credibility and a grilling by a prosecutor with a reputation for doggedness.

Numbers, not necessarily performance, dictated the final roster cuts the Washington Redskins made yesterday. While fullback Nehemiah Broughton, safety Reed Doughty and offensive lineman Ikechuku Ndukwe made the 53-player roster despite some glaring mistakes in the preseason, wide receivers Jimmy Farris and Mike Espy were among the 21 released, in large part because of the position they play. Broughton survived despite watching a potential touchdown pass from Todd Collins slip off his fingertips in Thursday's 17-10 preseason loss to the Ravens.

On Saturday, April 3, 2004, DAVID ALAN ESPIE, JR., of Crofton, MD; beloved husband of Virginia F. Espie; devoted father of Deborah Rolfe, Marcia Burden, David A. Espie, III. Also survived by three grandchildren, Kyle, Brittany and Christina; one loving sister, Janice Beahm. Friends and relatives may call on Tuesday, April 6, at the ROBERT E. EVANS FUNERAL HOME, Rt 450 & Race Track Rd., Bowie, MD from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Wednesday, April 7 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Crofton, MD at 10 A.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Hospice of the Chesapeake.

WASHINGTON -- The FBI and the Justice Department are at odds over whether to curtail a politically sensitive investigation into allegations that Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy accepted personal favors from the Arkansas-based poultry processing giant Tyson Foods Inc., sources said yesterday.While the FBI believes it has not yet exhausted all avenues of inquiry, high-level Justice Department officials are pressing to close the case because they say investigators have found insufficient evidence that Mr. Espy violated the law, sources reported.

WASHINGTON -- Haskell Blake, a pilot for Northwest Airlines, was stunned when two FBI agents showed up on his doorstep recently to question him about his activities when he was an employee of Tyson Foods more than 11 years ago.The agents said they were assisting in an independent counsel's investigation of Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy, who has been accused of improperly taking gratuities from Tyson Foods and other agriculture companies.But Mr. Blake said the agent asked him a broad range of questions that seemed entirely unrelated to the Espy matter:Was he aware of any drug use by Tyson family members?

BALTIMOREANS recognized during Wednesday night's ESPY Awards were Carmelo Anthony, male college athlete of the year; swimmer Michael Phelps, three-time world-record holder currently in Barcelona, Spain, for the world championships; Johnny Unitas, who died last Sept. 11; and Diane Geppi-Aikens, the Loyola College women's lacrosse coach who died of cancer June 29. It was a stirring, stellar representation. Dating game: ESPY Awards host Jamie Foxx, meanwhile, spilled some interesting beans about Keyshawn Johnson dating Serena Williams.

HARPERS FERRY, W. Va. -- Larry Luxenberg thinks it's a shame people can't see Emma Gatewood's shower curtain. Or Gene Espy's 40-year-old wool socks.For Luxenberg, an author, New York financial adviser and passionate hiker, these everyday items are sacred icons of the sport he loves. He wants to display them and other historic hiking artifacts in a museum near the Appalachian Trail Conference headquarters in this historic town.Such a museum, he says, would honor people like Gatewood and Espy, who found pleasure in putting one foot in front of the other, and, perhaps, inspire folks who believe the great outdoors is the space between their car and the office to, well, take a hike.