Dems Help Bury Committee Report on Duke's Doings

[babylonsister]

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003686.php

Dems Help Bury Committee Report on Duke's Doings
By Paul Kiel - July 16, 2007, 10:30 AM

Through his seat on the House intelligence committee from 2001 through 2006, ex-Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-CA) was able to funnel between $70 and $80 million in taxpayer dollars to his favored contractors. And it didn't matter that both Mitch Wade, who's pled guilty to bribing Cunningham, and Brent Wilkes, who's been indicted for bribing him, didn't have much in the way of qualifications. That's because Cunningham's colleagues on the committee stayed mum as Cunningham funneled project after bogus project to them.

Cunningham's doings were no secret. At one point, a committee aide even sent out a staff e-mail about one of Wade's program, saying, "HOOAH! Another $5 million of taxpayer money wasted."

Members of the committee are still trying to keep the sham quiet, reports The Los Angeles Times.

After the committee completed a report on how Cunningham abused his seat last year, the Republican leadership blocked its release, though ranking member Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) was able to disseminate a five-page summary of the findings last October.

Now the Democrats are in power. But the committee's chair Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) has decided not to publicly release the full 23-page declassified version. Not to worry, he says, "The important thing is that the committee took the review seriously and incorporated changes."

Lawmakers have plenty of motivation to keep the review quiet, the Times, which obtained a copy, reports:

Staffers said that Cunningham seemed more focused on who was getting the money than on the merits of the underlying projects, and that they were disturbed by his close ties with contractors who seemed unqualified for the projects they had won.

Aides said they acceded to Cunningham's demands "to keep him from going nuclear or ballistic" and because they considered him an influential member of the House Appropriations Committee who might retaliate by blocking intelligence committee funding priorities.

Current and former intelligence committee officials said staffers facing such pressure would almost certainly call the issue to the attention of their elected bosses....

"They are so nervous about this report being out," said one congressional official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Members oppose putting this thing out because you read this and the natural question is: 'Did you know this, and what did you do about it?' I don't think any members wanted that scrutiny."

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Well, deal making is just "practical politics". K&R

And, looking the other way while criminal activity is taking place is just being "realistic".

“America is a nation without a distinct criminal class...with the possible exception of Congress." - Mark Twain

[Dr.Phool]

2. Or might it be revealed that Harman and a few of her friends,

Were damn near as corrupt as the Duke Stir?

[Beelzebud]

3. Honor among thieves.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. IBTL

5, 4, 3, 2, . . .

[babylonsister]

5. Why? Are we supposed to be blind to info like this? nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. No but there seems to be an effort

to stifle anti-Dem threads.

Just watch this post get deleted. :)

[babylonsister]

8. I didn't know that; I think if Dems screw up, they deserve the same coverage

as rethugs. :shrug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. As do I

but neither of us owns this site.

[Exultant Democracy]

12. IBTL?

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. In Before the Lock

[Solly Mack]

6. alrighty then

[bbgrunt]

9. that makes this a truly bipartisan scandal

[EVDebs]

10. The "others" in the CIA and now in Congress, have been squeezed...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1336397&mesg_id=1341676

"They're gonna have a war..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlAPDQdHqCY

The only thing that counts now is how they'll vote on Impeachment ... of Cheney first, then Bush.

[Vinnie From Indy]

13. Bush didn't illegally wiretap for the hell of it!

His cabal undoubtedly have the goods on quite a few Democrats and Republicans. Unlimited and unchecked eavesdropping power DOES pay dividends. Is there any doubt that BushCo was more interested in spying on their political enemies than the Saudis that run Al Queda?

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. And related to this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3378208#3378687

[Robson]

22. I'd like to see Webb in leadership

Webb is someone that isn't afraid to take a stance. He's still an enthusiastic idealist.

With few exceptions, politicians that have been inside the beltway too long have essentially become exactly what they are...politicians. They talk a good game, but they are afraid to actually ruffle feathers, they accomplish little, and often have skeletons in the closet that can be used against them.

That's why I absolutely support term limits.

[SoCalDem]

16. So.. they have a copy.. Why not just PRINT IT?

It's not a state secret, is it? The fact that it was written up, and they got a copy of it, proves that it exists. Instead of telling us that it's "not being made public", why not BE A NEWSPAPER, and print it so we CAN see it.

It's a no-brainer.

Perhaps they could run it as "the story that congress does not want you to know about".

[endarkenment]

17. The corruption crosses party lines.

Until we understand this we are doomed to be used, repeatedly used and abused.

[rucky]

18. DNC - The "Helpful" Party. n/t

[leftofthedial]

19. the "democrats" strike again

[Rex]

20. Congresscritters just LOVE hiding ugly truths from their employers

so does the Executive, that is okay. One day it will comeback and bite them in the ass, hard.

Just keep it up you assholes - dig that grave.

[Robson]

21. Let the sunlight in

I agree that there is no excuse not to release the report if the Democratic leadership is serious about TRULY changing things.

Let the sunlight in, and then let the chips fall

Some interesting perspective here:

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003686.php