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Worse than Foley? Republicans Covering Up Evidence that GOP Knew of ex-Rep. Duke Cunningham Bribery & Cronyism

Submitted by BuzzFlash on Wed, 10/18/2006 - 1:03pm.

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

Disgraced former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham has already started serving time after pleading guilty to corruption charges last year. He admitted to abusing his power on the House Intelligence Committee to give more than $70 million to two defense contractors in exchange for at least $2.4 million.

But there is credible evidence suggesting that Republicans may have known about the deal all along.

On December 20, 2005, Intelligence Chairman Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) and Ranking Member Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) decided to conduct an internal investigation to determine whether Cunningham had improperly used the Committee's staff or resources to facilitate his bribery scheme.

A preliminary 59-page independent, non-partisan report was filed in May 2006, but the public release of the findings has been "held up" after Hoekstra reversed a previous agreement and refused to subpoena Cunningham for the investigation, according to a statement released by Harman.

Hoekstra maintains that his inaction is because "it is unethical to subpoena a witness before Congress who intends to plead the Fifth," as Cunningham may do. But Harman doesn't buy it. "Given the extent of the damage he caused the taxpayers and our Committee, sparing Cunningham the embarrassment of having to assert his 5th Amendment rights is not a goal (other Democrats) and I share," she said.

Though unable to release the full report under Committee Rules, Harman did publish a 5-page executive summary which, as she notes, "speaks for itself":

"Over time, (Intelligence Committee) staff learned of numerous 'red flags' associated with the counterintelligence project, including frequently expressed questions about the ethics and integrity of (convicted crony Michael) Wade, doubts about the value of the project and (Wade's company) MZM's performance, and grave concerns about the propriety of the Cunningham-Wade relationship.

"Despite these red flags, (Intelligence Committee) staff members continued to accept and support Cunningham's growing requests for this project from FY03 through FY06."

In other words, the Committee was aware that malfeasance was, or at least may have been, taking place over the span of three years. As members of his own party and the acting majority, Republicans undoubtedly possessed this knowledge.

Just like they knew about Foley's sexual harassment of underage boys.

It should be little wonder why Hoekstra and the rest of his party are trying to bury the Cunningham report, at least until elections. They are absolutely terrified of evidence proving that Republicans knowingly aided and abetted Cunningham's egregious crimes.

The subpoena powers enjoyed by Committee Chairmen (but not Ranking Members) raise the stakes for the midterm elections. A Democratic House might actually exercise Congress's government oversight responsibility. Hoekstra's feeble attempt to hide the truth is but one instance where Republicans have not conducted a complete and honest investigation into an important issue.

The American people have a right to know if any other members of Congress or their staffers were complicit in illegally funneling over $70 million to convicted cronies.

Click below to read the documents (pdf):

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

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SOS

Submitted by dorispatrick on Fri, 10/20/2006 - 11:21am.

Same old shit. One politician hides $100,000 in his freezer, one lets his secretary drown, one plays with boys, one sells secrets and access... same old shit.

It made sense in Caesar's time when the public was expected to stab to death these crappers- to rid society of their laws and presence. Romans had it right.

Fast forward to today, the democrats won't be better when they take control over the next two years. But we MUST REMOVE EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN FROM OFFICE. These people must not be rewarded for the ills they bring to us.

Who would imagine that a president would imprison Marines on the word of the enemy during war and then contrive evidence to send these brave men to their death or to prison for life. Bush is a sick bastard.

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Just another proof of Mark Twain's observation

Submitted by grolaw on Wed, 10/18/2006 - 6:27pm.

that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.

Now, if we would only follow the French and deal with our criminal leaders the way they did Loius XVI....

Sometimes it's not "good to be the king" - with apologies to Mel Brooks.

"In the part of this universe that we know there is great injustice, and often the good suffer, and often the wicked prosper, and one hardly knows which of those is the more annoying."
- Bertrand Russell -

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continuing criminality

Submitted by tothcarp on Thu, 10/19/2006 - 4:25am.

The worst effect of the right wing take over of our government is its institutionalized corruption. As long as special interests buy our leaders, we will inch by inch become more like Mexico, and less like the country we should be.
Interesting note: Marie Antoniette was hated by her countrymen because she was extavagant and wasteful in the face of poverty. She was eventually imprisoned with her family for failing to govern. Even though the royals hated the idea of a constitutional monarchy, they played along and were seen as necessary for the peaceful existance of France. It was many years later when she was executed for treason, having conspired with the enemy(austria) to put the nations loyal and fierce military at unnecessary risk.
All the corruption was tolerated, until she used the military for her own political needs.

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