Air Force general: The WH pressured me to change my testimony to help a Democratic donor
According to officials familiar with the situation, Shelton’s prepared testimony was leaked in advance to the company. And the White House asked the general to alter the testimony to add two points: that the general supported the White House policy to add more broadband for commercial use; and that the Pentagon would try to resolve the questions around LightSquared with testing in just 90 days. Shelton chafed at the intervention, which seemed to soften the Pentagon’s position and might be viewed as helping the company as it tries to get the project launched, the officials said.
“There was an attempt to influence the text of the testimony and to engage LightSquared in the process in order to bias his testimony,” Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) said in an interview. “The only people who were involved in the process in preparation for the hearing included the Department of Defense, the White House, and the Office Management and Budget.”…
The White House confirmed Wednesday that its Office of Management and Budget suggested changes to the general’s testimony but insisted such reviews are routine and not influenced by politics. And it said Shelton will be permitted to give the testimony he wants, without any pressure…
Melanie Sloan, who runs the nonpartisan ethics groups Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said the emerging allegations about possible White House involvement in LightSquared’s matter seemed to mirror earlier allegations in the Solyndra case.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Claude Rains could not be reached for comment.
Del Dolemonte on September 15, 2011 at 11:24 AM
Another domino falls.
gophergirl on September 15, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Think how much fun “progressives” would be having bashing this administration if Obama had an “(R)” after his name.
WashJeff on September 15, 2011 at 11:26 AM
A scandal a day….keeps a second term away….
ted c on September 15, 2011 at 11:29 AM
i love arcania, but is this a capt louie reference or an invisible man referenace?
DrW on September 15, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Solyndra
Gunwalker
SheltonGate
what the …..?
ted c on September 15, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Apparently the general was none-too-amused that the political hacks wanted him to lie to Congress just to protect a donor’s investment.
Go figure.
amerpundit on September 15, 2011 at 11:33 AM
A commenter on the article is already blaming Bush for this. Yes, really. The spectrum in question was bought by the company in 2004. Therefore the issue of trying to pressure a general to benefit a political donor and leaking a classified government report to a private company is no big deal.
strictnein on September 15, 2011 at 11:34 AM
Wait, the company got leaked the contents of a classified briefing?
Count to 10 on September 15, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Door #1, Monte!
Del Dolemonte on September 15, 2011 at 11:35 AM
I’m tellin’ you all, the top dem strategists will provide the evidence to convict Zero, anonymously.
dogsoldier on September 15, 2011 at 11:36 AM
This is the kind of thing the FBI should be investigating. Get the Obama administration lying to the FBI on top of the rest of the corruption.
BuckeyeSam on September 15, 2011 at 11:39 AM
Some nasty little people over there. Check out this exchange:
To which another poster called “newswoman” (Ann Curry?) predictably retorts:
To which the original poster replies
Sound of crickets after that…
Del Dolemonte on September 15, 2011 at 11:39 AM
I was thinking it must be Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
zmdavid on September 15, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Man, we can’t find hide nor hair of crr6 these days, can we?
What about all the fake scandals?
LOL
fossten on September 15, 2011 at 11:40 AM
In other news, an Air Force General was demoted to private, and sent to man a radar station in Northern Greenland.
Rebar on September 15, 2011 at 11:40 AM
its the newspeak…
ted c on September 15, 2011 at 11:43 AM
What? When you’ve lost CREW ….. That group is definately not non-partisan but as left leaning as you can get.
Vince on September 15, 2011 at 11:43 AM
“The White House confirmed Wednesday that its Office of Management and Budget suggested changes to the general’s testimony but insisted such reviews are routine and not influenced by politics. And it said Shelton will be permitted to give the testimony he wants, without any pressure.”
Yeeeah, riiiight.
WannabeAnglican on September 15, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Yeah yeah whatever.
I just heard from this guy I know who knows this other guy that knows this girl, and the girl told the guy who then told the other guy that she knows of a GOP staffer in D.C. who….get this…ordered movie tickets online WHILE AT WORK!!!!!!
Yeah I know, huh? I was like WTF!!11!
Bishop on September 15, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Ordinarily I would agree with you. However, when Rev. Al and Jackson and Wright get wind of that, why then the @#$!% will hit the fan. The Dems are stuck with the Won, unless someone can talk him into pulling an LBJ.
txmomof6 on September 15, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Crony capitalism at its most disgusting.
Red Cloud on September 15, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Maybe she got kicked out of law school for plagarism from WH talking points.
txmomof6 on September 15, 2011 at 11:46 AM
I stand corrected.
Rebar on September 15, 2011 at 11:48 AM
“And it said Shelton will be permitted to give the testimony he wants”
Well, gee, thanks OMB for “permitting” someone to testify the way they want to.
crosspatch on September 15, 2011 at 11:52 AM
WOW – this one could be massive.
jake-the-goose on September 15, 2011 at 11:54 AM
But did a Gov. Walker staffer blog about it? That’s really where the focus needs to be. Priorities, people!
changer1701 on September 15, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Perhaps she was affected by the Soros cutbacks on paid commenters. Times are tough all over, eh?
Tim Zank on September 15, 2011 at 11:57 AM
crr6 was unavailable for comment.
Ward Cleaver on September 15, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Everything this white house does is for donors and unions. Gosh the rest of us can just ride in the back of the bus!
The next administration is going to have a fun time looking at all the deals this admin has made for his sycophants, and jailing them!
Bambi on September 15, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Sounds like conspiracy to suborn perjury to me. Just saying.
“Under federal Criminal Law (18 U.S.C.A. § 1622), five elements must be proved to convict a person of subornation of perjury. It first must be shown that the defendant made an agreement with a person to testify falsely. There must be proof that perjury has in fact been committed and that the statements of the perjurer were
material. The prosecutor must also provide evidence that the perjurer made such statements willfully with knowledge of their falsity. Finally, there must be proof that the procurer had knowledge that the perjurer’s statements were false.
When there is a criminal conspiracy to suborn perjury, the conspirators may be prosecuted whether or not perjury has been committed.”
AcidReflux on September 15, 2011 at 12:06 PM
My prog friends are just doubling down. They sound like freaking idiots.
wi farmgirl on September 15, 2011 at 12:08 PM
From your mouth…
29Victor on September 15, 2011 at 12:21 PM
So then, nothing has changed?
29Victor on September 15, 2011 at 12:22 PM
Mrs. Dog and Momma Dog both agree with you. If the evidence is conclusive and anonymous, the crap will hit the fan, but the dems come out way ahead. The GOP takes the hit and the dems can put out a new candidate that’s not an albatross.
dogsoldier on September 15, 2011 at 12:41 PM