Judge Demands Answers In Bush's Tobacco Move

Earlier today, I noted that the Bush administration's retreat from the case against Big Tobacco was clearly motivated by cold, hard campaign cash. And now the federal judge overseeing the case seems to be thinking the same thing. Specifically, the Associated Press reports the judge questioned whether "additional influences" prompted the government's withdrawal, especially since the Washington Post earlier reported that "the Justice Department offered little explanation" for its actions.

Along with $10 million in tobacco industry campaign contributions to the GOP, Thinkprogress notes another possible "influence": namely, the fact that the government's lead lawyer in the case used to be a partner at a big law firm that represented tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds.

As I said before, this is pay-to-play at its worst. It smells as bad as the smoke from the cheap cigars that Bush and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales are probably smoking in celebration of their brazen giveaway. Let's hope the judge in the case doesn't let the Bush administration get away with it.