Politics and poaching

A top aide to Rep. Denny Rehberg insisted Thursday he was innocent of elk poaching allegations and blamed the charges on a political smear campaign — even as a newly released affidavit contradicted his story. Rehberg state director Randy Vogel is due in a Madison County court next week on alleged hunting violations that could land him in prison for up to six months. The case has sparked a bitter war of words between Democrats and Republicans. Each side accuses the other of distorting what happened for political gain. Sorting out the truth could be difficult: Vogel, a Republican, said he has si...