The suspension follows a case last year in which two former Air Force officers were sentenced to federal prison after being found guilty of engaging in a fraudulent scheme related to an $8 million earmark obtained by Murtha. A government witness, Richard Ianieri, testified at the trial for one of the ex-Air Force officers that he received $200,000 in kickbacks from Kuchera Defense Systems for helping to steer part of that earmark to KDS.
From today's ABC News-AP article:
In July, Ianieri testified about getting the kickbacks to steer $650,000 worth of work to Kuchera from an $8.2 million congressional earmark. Ianieri testified "there was political and earmark pressure" to shift the money — though he didn't say who applied such pressure.
Ianieri's firm had gotten the earmark after hiring a lobbying firm that employed Murtha's brother. The Pennsylvania Democrat's office refuses to say whether the congressman sponsored the earmark.
"This is an issue between Kuchera Defense and the U.S. Navy. It does not involve our office," Murtha spokesman Matthew Mazonkey said.
So Mazonkey thinks we're supposed to believe that Murtha has nothing to do with the 8 Mil earmark? How does Mazonkey sleep at night?
Murtha must be pretty spooked about this.
Ianieri better have body gaurds and a good home security system.
I believe you’re right about every bit of what you say.
This has to be the most damning thing I’ve seen so far connecting Murtha to quid pro quo corruption. There’s probably a lot more but this little gem is in the public domain.
It would sure be nice to know what the fed investigation has turned up on Murtha, it has to be a considerable amount.