Congress bribery probe could deepen (Cunningham, K. Harris, Goode Jr...)

[sabra]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/05/19/congress_bribery_probe_could_deepen/?page=full

Congress bribery probe could deepen
Records detail contractor's sway

WASHINGTON -- On March 8, 2004, after a private, chartered flight from Washington, Congressman Randy ''Duke" Cunningham checked into a luxury oceanfront suite at the Delano Hotel, a restored Art Deco jewel on Miami Beach. Prosecutors say the San Diego lawmaker, in town to shop for a yacht, racked up more than $15,000 in bills during the trip, including $848 in meals.

Court records show that Mitchell Wade, an ambitious defense contractor with deep pockets, picked up most of the tab. Prosecutors say the Miami Beach trip was pocket change compared with the more than $1 million in bribes Wade paid to Cunningham, a former fighter pilot and powerful member of the House Appropriations Committee, to steer government defense contracts his way.

But Wade had more money to spread around.

Within days of sending Cunningham to Miami, prosecutors say, Wade gave $32,000 in laundered campaign funds to Representative Katherine Harris, the Florida Republican and Homeland Security Committee member whose help Wade was seeking to create a complex for MZM Inc., his company, in her home state. Documents say Wade also funneled $46,000 into the campaign account of Representative Virgil H. Goode Jr., a Virginia Republican who also sits on the Appropriations Committee.

Wade then discussed getting specific defense appropriations with Harris and Goode or their staffs, according to court documents. Weeks after Wade arranged for most of the contributions to Goode, Wade walked away with a pledge for a $9 million facility in Goode's district with help from Goode's office, the court filings say

[madaboutharry]

1. Katherine Harris - hahahahaha

I love to see her name in news stories like this!

[tanyev]

2. Oh, Kathy, we hardly knew ye.

The considerable talents of Spunk and Moxie will be wasted in prison. Sure, they might get you some preferential treatment, some contraband cigarettes, but that is nothing compared to what they were poised to do for you in the world of politics. So tragic. :cry:

[chat_noir]

3. love the images that accompany the article

[bluedeminredstate]

5. Sweet Jeebus!

That's not a good look for her. Maybe something in resembling real flesh and less Botox and silicone might be better. Maybe just a bag.
:hide:

[DemonFighterLives]

9. She looks like a goon

or something
:silly:

[cliss]

4. If this happens,

guess who is behind it?

Hint = first letter 'J', last letter 'B'.

[seasat]

6. Cruella skated the first time she did something like this.

Hopefully the second time is the charm. I just hope they drag it out until after the Repug primary and bring it full bore during the election. I'd love for her scowling face to be associated with Duke Cunningham here in FL. Here's a link that includes information on here previous illegal campaign finace activities.

(LINK)

Eleven years ago, employees of the Riscorp insurance company made campaign contributions totaling $20,292 to U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris. It was later discovered the employees were illegally reimbursed for their donations. Five Riscorp executives pleaded guilty to a range of charges and the company's president served a brief prison sentence.
...
While Harris denied knowledge of the scheme, a letter from her office requested that Riscorp provide separate return addresses for each contribution. Federal prosecutors called her campaign chairman a co-conspirator in the case, but he was never charged with any crimes.

[SquireJons]

7. Everybody knows about Cruella

But to me the big news is Goode. I live in Va and Goode has been a powerful fixture in state politics for a long time. Until recently, he was a dino, and I was actually glad to see him switch parties. Kind of our own little Zel Miller, except he didn't go away. So, it will be interesting to see if the drunken, redneck, nascar lovin, bunny huntin clans will continue to back him, now that he's been caught with his hand in the till. My guess is that it won't make any difference at all. Near as I can tell, conservatives have no ethics at all.

[AzDar]

8. Two people whom Karma needs to dump on heavily: Katherine Harris..

and Ken Blackwell. History will not be kind to these thieves of Democracy...

[eppur_se_muova]

10. Let's hope it does. nt