McConnell Earmarks $25M For Contractor (BAE) Under Investigation For Bribery

[DeSwiss]

McConnell marks funds for contractor firm under investigation for bribery

Posted on Sat, Oct. 27, 2007

HERALD-LEADER.COM
By John Cheves

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is pushing $25 million in earmarked federal funds for a British defense contractor that is under criminal investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and suspected by American diplomats of a "longstanding, widespread pattern of bribery allegations." McConnell tucked money for three weapons projects for BAE Systems into the defense appropriations bill, which the Senate approved Oct. 3. The Defense Department failed to include the money in its own budget request, which required McConnell to intercede, said BAE spokeswoman Susan Lenover.

BAE is based in Great Britain but has worldwide operations, including a Louisville facility that makes naval guns and employs 322. McConnell has taken at least $53,000 in campaign donations from BAE's political action committees and employees since his 2002 re-election. United Defense Industries, which BAE purchased two years ago, pledged $500,000 to a political-science foundation the senator created, the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville.

In June, BAE confirmed that the Justice Department is investigating possible corruption in its Saudi Arabian deals. According to British media reports, BAE set up a slush fund with hundreds of millions of dollars in a Washington, D.C., bank to bribe Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan in order to win weapons contracts. Bandar, who heads the Saudi National Security Council, has denied the allegation. BAE cannot discuss the allegation, Lenover said.

"We can't really comment on it because it's an ongoing investigation," Lenover said. "We're continuing to cooperate." Since BAE publicly disclosed the federal investigation, causing its stock to drop nearly 8 percent, its chief executive officer has announced his retirement earlier than expected and the company retained Britain's former lord chief justice to lead an internal ethics review.

http://www.kentucky.com/454/story/214167.html">More

*** - $25 million for BAE bribers, and $0 for S-CHIP and children's health. A great example of good ol' Republican "Family Values...."

[alfredo]

1. Oooh, we can have our own Duke Cunningham.

Here it is at a very good Kentucky blog

http://www.bluegrassroots.org/showDiary.do?diaryId=455