Posted on 01/23/2012 1:40:12 PM PST by BAW
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today asked the principal behind the LightSquared 4G wireless project to explain a questionable contact to Grassleys office that intimated benefits for Grassley if he softened his inquiry of government approval of the project.
Since last April, Grassley has been reviewing the Federal Communications Commissions approval of the LightSquared project and the concerns of interference with the Global Positioning System.
According to a press release issued from Grassleys office today, the Senator wrote to Philip Falcone of Harbinger Capital Partners, expressing concern that two separate incidents implied a desire to have Grassley pull punches in his investigation. Grassley said he wont be a part of that. One contact came in an email from Falcone to Grassleys office, saying that since LightSquared is already in the political arena, it could be made a win for Grassley, LightSquared, and the consumer.
The second contact was from someone who intimated that he represented LightSquared in a call to Grassleys staff. The individual, Todd Ruelle, said he only gets only if this deal goes through and hinted that if LightSquared were allowed to proceed, Grassleys home state of Iowa could get a call center. Grassleys office advised Ruelle not to contact the office further and called the Senate ethics committee regarding the contact.
(Excerpt) Read more at agri-pulse.com ...
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