Rep. John Murtha May Face Ethics Investigation

sierratimes ^ | Dec 5, 2005 | Jim Kouri

[sure_fine]

pinging

[Valin]

Why did Murtha suddenly change his mind? Was this a calculated effort to win the news media over? Is this something he hopes will insulate him from something that is brewing within the Beltway?

Well, according to investigative journalist Sher Zieve, the House Ethics committee is considering investigating Rep. John Murtha for House multiple ethics violations. The investigation would center on Rep. Murtha’s involvement with his brother’s firm KSA Consulting.

The story, which originally ran in the Los Angeles Times on 13 June, surrounds the 2005 appropriations bill that funded $20M to companies for which KSA Consulting lobbied. Murtha is a leader on the House Defense Appropriations Committee. An aide to Murtha, Carmen Scialabba, also works for KSA.

Further reported by the LA Times is that KSA directly lobbied Murtha’s office for funding on behalf of 7 of its clients and that a Murtha aide advised a defense contractor that it needed to retain the services of KSA Consulting.

Zieve also dug up a recent editorial appearing in Investor’s Business Daily that stated: “The newspaper Roll Call reported that there might be a House ethics committee investigation of Murtha's apparent improprieties.

[Long Distance Rider]

I have no problem with Murtha and any "ethics" violations. After Duke Cunningham, I just figure they are all like that. Like diapers and for the same reason, they need to be changed regularly. But if the voters do not change them, I figure they accept or even approve what their local crook is doing.
However there is a statement in the story that I take issue with the author over.

" So what happened to Senator Corzine? He got elected governor of arguably the most corrupt state in the Union."

How dare he? There is only one statistic that Mississippi ranks number one in. CORRUPTION! Now this guy is trying to take that away from us.

[jw777]

Good Point. Very clever, these filthy LIbs.

[paddles]

Murtha also strong-armed the USMC into placing a detachment of AH-1 and UH-1 helicopters in his district during BRAC-93. When informed of the plan the chairman of the BRAC committee, former congressman Jim Courter said; "We're in the business of shutting down bases not creating new ones."

[cookcounty]

Question. When is the last time Murtha was in Iraq?

When he came out for immediate withdrawal, he said he based his opinion on conversations he had with troops in Iraq. But then went on to say that he had visited Iraq "last year," which I have to say, seems like 2004.

I have a son in Iraq for the 3rd time. 15 months ago his attitude was less positive than it is now. Is Murtha going on old info? There has been so much done in 2005, it's hard to square his statements with reality on the ground unless maybe he is working from information gathered at the"low point" in morale, mid-late 2004.

[cookcounty]

Reminds me of Illinois Republican George Ryan, who after it emerged he was going to face ethics charges, suddenly started courting the left, looking for sympathy among "Progressive Democrats" and to take advantage of their deep and abiding connections with the MSM.

It was at that point that Ryan annouced the Death Penalty Moratorium, and led an Illinois trade mission to Cuba, where he enjoyed the company of Fidel, a "Governor" who doesn't take crap from anybody.

Murtha is likely looking for a Chris Mathews Innocualtion.

[Republican Wildcat]

Here's another possible reason for his little speeches - he knew this was coming, and now can claim the Republicans are trying to destroy him because he disagreed with the administration on the war.

Here it comes, folks.

[Wolfie]

Something has to be done to put a stop to the culture of corruption currently afflicting congress.

Vote anit-incumbent, every time, no matter what party loses out.

[mhking]

John Murtha may face HEAD EXAMINATION...

[Republican Wildcat]

Yes, exactly. We have been suspecting as much. He'll probably get away with it, too. These people are slimy.

[cookcounty]

"The man is a hawk when it comes to getting military contracts for cronies and nothing more. He cares nothing for the troops or their missions. "

George Will this morning called him a "professional Appropriator" or something like that. Murtha loves the big contracts, but wars mess with an appropriator's plans, makes in difficult to keep the process orderly. You have to work three times as hard.

[eleni121]

"...the House Ethics committee is considering investigating Rep. John Murtha for House multiple ethics violations. The investigation would center on Rep. Murtha’s involvement with his brother’s firm KSA Consulting."

It's about time! Murtha is as corrupt - probably more so - as just about all of them Dems in the Senate...and a couple Republicans.

[Logical me]

The only way to stop this constant protection racket the RATS have devised is to make an all out attack on Murtha. Make him an example and the hell with the witch hunt statements. We'll take crap no matter which stand we take so let's take the high road.

[rolling_stone]

My advice to Murtha....cut and run you can't win!

[Ben Hecks]

Anybody remember how a certain Repubican congressman just prior to being indicted during the Clintoon administration made a lot of controversial statements...so later, after the indictments came down he could claim was being targeted for his comments. Sounds familier here. Anything going on with this guy?

14 posted on 12/01/2005 7:09:13 PM CST by kimoajax (Rack'em & Stack'em)

[Tunehead54]

Telling: As long as he calls for troop withdrawals and makes ridiculous statements about the US military, he's insured himself against the mainstream news media reporting on his ethics problems.

---

... and true. ;-)

[devolve]

Dear Mommy -

- President Nixon ordered me into Cambodia with the CIA -

- It was only Joe Wilson, Jack Murtha, John McCain and me -

- We spent Christmas Eve spitting into the face of danger.....

 mid   Silly Aging Man   mid 

 mp3   I Was Almost A Prisoner   mid 

[AgThorn]

"If Republicans were one-tenth as rough with the congressman who wants to withdraw troops in the middle of a war as they are on a congresswoman who calls it cowardly to withdraw troops in the middle of a war, we might have a functioning Republican Party." Ann Coulter

[ncountylee]

Great quote.