Another suspect singing in earmark probe
posted at 10:34 am on July 21, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Federal investigators continue to build a corruption case involving key people in John Murtha’s circle. A second defendant has pleaded guilty to charges of corruption and agreed to cooperate with the prosecution in probes surrounding earmarks given by the “king of pork,” as Murtha is known. The news brings investigators closer to the inner workings of what looks like a massive conspiracy to defraud the government through its defense contracting:
A former government employee pleaded guilty Monday and agreed to cooperate in a criminal investigation of appropriations that members of Congress steer to defense contractors.
Mark O’Hair is the second defendant in the past week to begin cooperating with federal prosecutors who are looking into alleged wrongdoing by defense contractors with ties to Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.
Last week, the former chief executive of a defense contractor with ties to Murtha pleaded guilty to soliciting kickbacks from a subcontractor in Pennsylvania.
In 2007, Murtha directed $4 million in federal funds to Richard S. Ianieri’s company, Coherent Systems International Corp.
O’Hair failed to disclose that he had a position as an officer of a defense contractor while he continued to work at Eglin AFB in awarding contracts. Schaller Engineering managed to get $200,000 worth of work from O’Hair, thanks to his moonlighting. He faces up to 10 years in prison for hiding his conflict of interest, which apparently led O’Hair to start cutting deals to benefit himself all over again. This case ties to Ianieri through subcontracting, apparently between Schaller and Coherent.
The feds cut deals when they get good enough information to expand their cases. What can Ianieri and O’Hair tell investigators about Kit Murtha and his connections to his brother John? It will probably take a few more shoes to fall to discover that, but so far, the case seems well-heeled enough to keep them coming.
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I bet Murtha is really regretting that Pelosi didn’t get him Hoyer’s job. Right now he is just a dem, so no major push to cover this up.
Vashta.Nerada on July 21, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Frankly, I’m suprised Eric Holder’s Justice Department hasn’t quashed this investigation as they are likely to do whenever a Democrat politician is involved.
highhopes on July 21, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Noose is tightening around Murtha. Good. More please, faster.
rbj on July 21, 2009 at 10:40 AM
One defendant
Two defendants
Three defendants four
How many does it take
to send Murtha out the door?
VibrioCocci on July 21, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Good to see you’re back up. I was starting to think ObamaNet had gone self-aware and was knocking out the opposition.
EnglishMike on July 21, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Hopefully, it won’t take an Imelda Marcosesque number of shoes to drop to move up the ladder of corruption.
ICBM on July 21, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Once Murtha is indicted, and found guilty…the list of potential offenses is long…poetic justice would dictate that Murtha be confined to one of the USMC Detention facilities, perhaps at Camp LeJeune or at Charleston, for the period of his sentence. I am sure the Marines on duty would love to have him as a “guest.”
coldwarrior on July 21, 2009 at 10:42 AM
how far down the food chain will the investigate go?. how many of the pols are involved?. open up the can of worms and let all the slimmys out.
hawkman on July 21, 2009 at 10:43 AM
And probably many years. William Jefferson’s freezer was found stuffed with cash in late 2005. The prosecution in his case is expected to rest this week after a month of testimony. My bet is that he walks because the will have lost focus by the time they go to deliberate.
highhopes on July 21, 2009 at 10:44 AM
If only Murtha were a Black Panther.
CurtZHP on July 21, 2009 at 10:45 AM
A purple-faced Murtha…mmmmmmmmmm.
SouthernGent on July 21, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Has Murtha announced if he is running, or not, in 2010?
WashJeff on July 21, 2009 at 10:46 AM
They sure would.
Wade on July 21, 2009 at 10:46 AM
The majority of voters in his corrupt backwater fiefdom. If the GOP can’t win the seat in 2010 then the district deserves what it gets.
highhopes on July 21, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Not to worry. If they get to close to Big John, I’m sure Barry and Eric Holder will snuff the investigation as just ‘being a distraction’.
GarandFan on July 21, 2009 at 10:46 AM
10 – 9 to pick him up and carry him, and 1 to blame Bush.
Daggett on July 21, 2009 at 10:47 AM
I would be more curious to know how far UP the food chain this goes.
How many Dems does it take to make a chorus?
VibrioCocci on July 21, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Sometimes Holder waits until guilt is proven. Then he scuttles the prosecution. Easier to make sure all guilty parties escape justice.
ROCnPhilly on July 21, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Check Sandy’s socks…
right2bright on July 21, 2009 at 10:49 AM
For Godfather fans: “Speaker Pelosi Asked to Intercede in Congressional Turf War Over Mortgage, Senate Seat, and Defense Contracting Rackets” http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/04/speaker-pelosi-asked-to-intercede-in.html
Mervis Winter on July 21, 2009 at 10:50 AM
And easier to give deep cover to any administration officials that might be involved like the way Michelle Obama’s rump is being protected in the IG firing. The IG had to go because he was messing with a friend of the filthy liar but it was the liar’s wife who was more involved. Justice, of course, will investigate Bush Cheney but this blatant violation of the law will be ignored just like all the other corrupt Democrats out there.
highhopes on July 21, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Meanwhile, back home in Pennsylvania, the latest opinion poll shows that Murtha’s approval rating in his home district has risen 10% since this story was announced.
Percy_Peabody on July 21, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Pelosi will say that the investigators are lying; they lie all the time. Just wait and see.
Whatever happened to Rangle…
Surely the Speaker wants to know how Maxine Waters & Barney Frank directed TARP money to their banks…
TN Mom on July 21, 2009 at 10:57 AM
My congressman Patrick Murphy has his office in Doylestown PA where Ianeri also opened his office just when Murphy took office. Murphy has been linked in with Murtha and plenty of letters to the editor including a very recent one by Harry Fawkes, Bucks County Chairman GOP:
If Murtha goes down, I sure hope he takes the Pelosi lap dog Murphy with him.
msmveritas on July 21, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Heh. They’re coming to get you fat boy.
NathanG on July 21, 2009 at 10:58 AM
WTF is murtha an ocotopus?
how many shoes are going to fall before the feds can connect the dots?
or are they ever going to, he does have a D after his name.
ColdWarrior57 on July 21, 2009 at 11:01 AM
+10
“Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
ReagansRight on July 21, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Mike,
When ObamaNet becomes “self aware”, Obama’s mother-in-law will be moving out of the White House and Soros will be moving in….
Rovin on July 21, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Rot. In. Prison. Murtha.
You fat jerk.
UltimateBob on July 21, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Great, but so what?
Holder will likely drop the investigation.
drjohn on July 21, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Murtha is the poster boy for term limits.
I hope they put him on trial and the courtroom seating overflows with Marines who have returned from Iraq.
fogw on July 21, 2009 at 11:05 AM
OT FWIW
A key House committee on Tuesday indefinitely postponed voting on health care reform legislation, after Democratic leaders were unable to line up enough votes from moderate members of their own party.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee canceled the session as it faced serious concerns about the legislation from fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats, who hold a large number of seats on the panel. The Energy and Commerce Committee is the only House panel with jurisdiction over health care that has not completed writing its version of the reform bill.
ICBM on July 21, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Another shoe falls, but will any justice ever be served? He is a Duplicitous Democrat after all.
kirkill on July 21, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Frog march.
Let’s go.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on July 21, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Tell me, Does this throw the Democratic party into disarray?
Herb on July 21, 2009 at 11:14 AM
The ONE shall calm the waters…
right2bright on July 21, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Weekend at Porky’s. Party time as usual.
Hening on July 21, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Hey Murtha. Do you mind sitting on Barbara Boxer’s face?…… Okay, never mind.
NathanG on July 21, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Why isn’t this guy in jail?
lorien1973 on July 21, 2009 at 11:32 AM
i always felt there was something strange about him and now we know. he was a military supporter and then did an about face on the war effort. it all makes sense now.
rjoco1 on July 21, 2009 at 11:32 AM
“The mills of the Gods grind slowly but exceeding fine” or something like that! Let us hope this applies to Murtha and while I’m at it to the Obama administration’s innate monkeyshines. These days the only thing that keeps me going is the faint hope that justice of some sort will prevail.
jeanie on July 21, 2009 at 11:32 AM
You just gave me a thrill up my leg.
Loxodonta on July 21, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Because of the letter D behind his name.
Holder will bring up some crap about Murtha being a veteran, who CrockObama saw in the audience on Memorial Day, and end the investigation.
I have a new job for Murtha, say..300 yards downrange. Another democrat disgrace.
dthorny on July 21, 2009 at 12:04 PM
I hope this fat turd traitor and all his thug-buddies rot in jail…. a Marine Corps. Brig would be wonderful. If Holder “comes to the rescue”, I hope We the People revolt and bring the rest to the shack down on them.
HomeoftheBrave on July 21, 2009 at 12:07 PM
I don’t know how things like this are considered news. We KNOW the Democrats are crooks. They know that they’re crooks.
Everyone KNOWS they’re crooks. Democrats don’t care if those they vote into office are crooks. It’s goes on on every level from crooked aldermen, to crooked mayors, crooked Senators, crooked President.
Democrat voters EXPECT their politicians to be crooks an d will do whatever is needed to get them off free.
Jeff from WI on July 21, 2009 at 12:10 PM
I predict Murtha will never be indicted.
Just a Dem pol doing what Dem polls do.
If Murtha can go to jail, so can Rangel, Dodd, Pelosi, Feinstein, Reid…
The fix is always in.
guntotinglibertarian on July 21, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Helluva a good starting point.
coldwarrior on July 21, 2009 at 12:25 PM
I suprised too….Let’s blame Bush!
BigMike252 on July 21, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Time for a pig roast!
redfoxbluestate on July 21, 2009 at 1:09 PM
It’s raining Manolos!!
TBinSTL on July 21, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Never Steal Anything Small, you stupid dorks. $200,000 in exchange for 10 years in jail? Stupid, Stupid. Now Murtha, with his probably (imho) kicked back fortune will never be touched. I am surprised that the Loser hasn’t fired these federal prosecutors already; who would complain about it, the msm?
TimothyJ on July 21, 2009 at 2:48 PM
If there were any justice in this world….
Chaz706 on July 21, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Better close off his taxpayer-funded private airport so he can’t skip the country before he’s nailed for corruption charges.
Christian Conservative on July 21, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Well, heck, cut the man some slack. At least they have Coherent Systems.
Urquhart on July 21, 2009 at 6:25 PM
Being a reluctant constituent of Porky Murtha,and knowing a little about Pa.plitics,I think I can safely say that Murtha will come out of this smelling like a rose.Just like Abscam.Murtha should not be out in the street today,much less holding public office.
DDT on July 21, 2009 at 8:00 PM