EXCLUSIVE: FBI Raided Lobbying Firm Connected to Murtha

[RamboLiberal]

Source: ABC News

The FBI raided the offices of a defense lobbying firm with close ties to Democratic Rep. John Murtha (Penn.), sources tell ABC News.

The FBI searched the Virginia headquarters of the PMA Group in November, according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. PMA was founded by former Murtha aide Paul Magliochetti and specializes in winning earmarked taxpayer funds for its clients.

Good government groups have long criticized Murtha's cozy relationship with a handful of lobbyists and defense firms, ties that see millions of dollars in government spending go out from Murtha's office, and hundreds of thousands in campaign donations come in. Murtha has said his earmarking has helped revive his economically depressed district.

PMA is the second company with close ties Murtha to be raided by federal agents recently. In January, agents from the FBI, the IRS and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service searched the office of Kuchera Industries and Kuchera Defense Systems, as well as the homes of the firms' founders. The companies reportedly have received over $100 million in earmarks, thanks to Murtha's efforts.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=6840438&page=1

[biopowertoday]

1. a watchdog group has called him one of the most corrupt members of

congress. He gives Dems a bad name--Pelosi should be on his case!!


The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has called Murtha one of the most corrupt members of Congress, for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from companies and writing them millions of dollars in earmarks. Murtha has declined to comment on the designation.

Soon after the raid on PMA's offices, the firm's other senior members began talking to founder Magliochetti about an arrangement that would include him leaving the firm, according to the National Journal. Asked with these discussions were related to the raid, Dorton declined to comment.

Murtha is no stranger to controversy. In the late 1970s, he was targeted in the "Abscam" scandal, a three-year FBI sting in which agents posed as representatives of an Arab sheik and offered suitcases of cash to lawmakers for favors. According to reports at the time, Murtha declined the undercover agents' cash offer, but suggested the "sheik" find a way to invest the money in his home district.

[Proletariatprincess]

2. good.

Defense spending is the biggest of all boondoggles in the whole miserable corrupt system. I don't expect miracles here, but glad to see some of this uncovered at long last. Trillions of dollars wasted over the years on overpriced useless weapon systems that always overrun the estimates. It is so bad, that the Pentagon can't even account for the most of the money spent on the defense industry. Congress has known about this for a long time and has done nothing. Perhaps it will take law enforcement to bring this all to light.

[tritsofme]

3. Good thing Steny Hoyner beat him for the Majority Leader post a few years ago.

To the chagrin of quite a few people on this board IIRC.

[AllentownJake]

4. Forgive me for being a little cynical here

However I'll wait for what information a Holder Justice Department brings up on Mr. Murtha.

[EFerrari]

5. Mueller is around for two more years and we know he's dirty. n/t

[McCamy Taylor]

6. Wake me up when the FBI raids the offices of KBR.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

7. me too...yawn

[Winterblues]

8. I am for ending corruption where ever it may be.

If a Democrat is guilty they should pay the price just as a Republican should. Murtha has a reputation and that is why so many Republicans were shocked when he turned against them on the Iraq situation..He has always been very much a hawk.