Federal Authorities Raid Top Donor to Ohio Congressmen

[chill_wind]

Federal Authorities Raid Top Donor to Ohio Congressmen
Source:

Sabrina Eaton // Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

11 Feb 2009 // A defense lobbying firm that is a top political donor to several Ohio members of Congress has been raided by federal law enforcement authorities.

Federal investigators came to PMA's offices and "requested a variety of information," according to PMA spokesman Patrick Dorton. The November raid was first reported Monday night by ABC News.

"The firm is cooperating with their request," said Dorton, who would not further discuss the scope of the investigation.

Published reports suggest the raid may be part of an investigation into Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. John P. Murtha, whose former employees started the company. Murtha heads the Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees the defense budget.

PMA Group specializes in securing defense earmarks for clients in spending bills. The Center for Responsive Politics says it was the top campaign donor last year to 40 members of Congress, including Ohio Democrats Tim Ryan of Niles and Marcy Kaptur of Toledo, as well as Springfield Republican David Hobson, who retired from Congress at the beginning of this year.

http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/37255


After FBI Raid, Top Defense Lobbying Firm Falling Apart
Source:

Roxana Tiron // The Hill
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11 Feb 2009 // A top defense-lobbying firm in Washington that was recently raided by the FBI is disintegrating.

Several high-profile lobbyists with The PMA Group have privately informed clients and K Street colleagues this week that they are starting a new firm.

The lobbyists resigned from PMA last Friday after they were unable to strike a buyout deal with Paul Magliocchetti, the founder of PMA, who has indicated for a few months that he wanted to retire.

The new group is called Flagship Government Relations and is being billed as a business development and lobbying firm, The Hill has learned.

http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/37252

More at the links.