FBI was investigating Murtha for corruption, new records show

[alp227]

Source: Wash. Post

Several months before Rep. John Murtha died, the FBI was moving to expand its ongoing investigation of the powerful lawmaker into a full public corruption probe, newly released records show.

No charges were brought, but federal agents spent more than two years examining whether the Pennsylvania Democrat used his perch as defense appropriations chairman — and his control of billions of dollars in federal defense contracts — to benefit select contractors and lobbyists. The Justice Department’s public integrity chief kept regular tabs on the inquiry.

By June 2009, the FBI had homed in on Murtha’s relationship with KSA Consulting, a lobbying firm where Murtha’s brother worked and whose clients won millions of dollars in Murtha-steered earmarks. The investigation suggested that several defense companies that used KSA were “suspicious” entities, sometimes sharing the same business address as KSA, the documents say.

It’s unclear whether the FBI dropped the Murtha investigation for lack of evidence or whether circumstances rendered the probe irrelevant. The lawmaker died in February 2010 from complications of gall bladder surgery. His office repeatedly insisted that he was not the subject of a criminal inquiry, and Murtha had denied any wrongdoing.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fbi-was-investigating-rep-murtha-for-corruption-new-records-show/2011/10/18/gIQAtZ8PvL_singlePage.html

[aquart]

1. Not a surprise. He was on a Most Corrupt list.

[bigworld]

3. Old school politician to the end.

[TheDebbieDee]

4. I remember several discussion threads on DU about Murtha

being under investigation - there was no debate about his guilt or innocence (the concensus was that he was guilty of whatever the hell it was).

There was just speculation about whether or not he would resign before or after the findings were made public.

[DJ13]

2. — to benefit select contractors and lobbyists.

If thats the criteria theres several hundred more they should investigate.

[EFerrari]

7. For blackmail, not law enforcement.

That's our FBI.

[No Elephants]

11. +1

[Kurmudgeon]

5. Hope they are at least investigating Republicans still.

Unless they were looking for something to damage Murtha with in case he became even more of a danger to right wing interests.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

6. So then almost everyone one on Capital Hill should be in jail?

[Octafish]

8. Murtha opposed the war in Iraq.

For the Warmonger Class, that's reason enough to investigate.

[WhiteTara]

9. It must have been big, because they killed him.

During surgery, they nicked his colon. Same thing to Lantos. Walter Reed hospital is not necessarily life saving.

[leveymg]

10. I thought Lantos suddenly discovered he had a Stage 4 carcinoma?

Both definitely have that sudden and unexpected Death by Flu in the Kremlin feel about them.

[WhiteTara]

13. Had surgery.

Nicked colon. Death ensued. My congressman was horrified and told some supporters that he would always go home for anything!

[leveymg]

14. Lantos had throat cancer. Why would they "nick his colon"?

:eyes: :think:

[No Elephants]

12. Did someone sue for these records after the man died?

How about we go after the ones who are still fleecing us?