The Silent Triumverate

Prospects remaining:  1

• Ted Stevens (R-AK)
• Mike Crapo (R-ID)
• Judd Gregg (R-NH)

New day, time to spread out a new post.  See here for yesterday's thrilling developments in the hunt for the Senator with the secret hold on pork transparency bill S2590, as well as ruminations about the likelihood of each prospect.

I'm waiting to hear back from inquiries I've put in to the offices of Senators Stevens, Gregg, and Crapo, having pointed out Senator Frist's call for all Senate offices to respond "honestly and transparently" to bloggers' questions about the hold.

Meanwhile, Captain Ed feels enough pieces have fallen into place to name Stevens.  He makes a strong case.  Still, as time dwells on and we're stuck at 3, I continue to wonder about Option 3 posited yesterday.

Stay tuned for updates as they roll in.

Update:  TPM Muckraker is now pointing to a 12-day-old article in the Fort Smith Times Record, in which Senator Coburn identifies Senator Stevens as the lone holder.  (HT: Allahpundit, who seems to have lost a bet.)

One of the senators most criticized for his personal projects, Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, has a hold of his own on Coburn’s bill to make public the spending patterns of the government. Called the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, the legislation calls for the creation of a database open to the public where citizens can track government spending.

“He’s the only senator blocking it,” Coburn said of Stevens.

So... you're telling me this exciting process of elimination that's mounted over the last few days was unnecessary?  Well, nearly.  Unfortunately, the Times Record doesn't seem to get any love from Google News, otherwise anyone with an inkling and a browser could've settled this long ago.

Kudos to Mary Katherine for the early spot-on pick.

Update:  I've just heard back from Susan Wheeler, media contact for Senator Crapo, who states, "Senator Crapo has determined this is an exceptional case given the Majority Leader’s request and has instructed me to let you know that he did not place the hold."

Senators Gregg and Stevens remain the only two yet to respond.

Update:  Per TPMM, a representative of Senator Gregg has denied he is the secret holder.

Update:  With 99 denials, and the last seat filled as the music finally stopped, Stevens confirms his secret identity.

Whew!  That was fun.  Good game, blogosphere.  Nice hustle.

Next up:  Where is D.B. Cooper?