Murtha "Flips the Bird" at FBI's PMA Investigation

Congressman John Murtha, the King of Congressional Pork Really knows how to "put it" to the FBI.

A few months ago, the FBI raided the offices of the PMA group, founded by a Murtha aide, and one of the Pork King's favorite Lobbying firm. What they found out is that Murtha and his buddies at PMA Group operated their own little Earmark Factory. A recent report, the FBI may be zeroing in on the relationship between Murtha and PMA.

Today Murtha gave the FBI "the bird." He posted on his site a list of $134 Million Dollars of earmarks that he is requesting, $20 Million of it to clients of PMA, the very firm that is being investigated:

Rep. Murtha Wants $134M In Earmarks
Pennsylvania Democrat Asks for $20 Million for Clients of Firm Under Investigation
 
A flurry of federal investigations and news articles about Congressman John Murtha’s funding requests and campaign contributions has not stopped him from asking for $134 million in earmarks for his district this year, including $75 million for defense spending.

The Pennsylvania Democrat posted his requests on his Web site Friday morning.

In the introduction to his request, Murtha’s office notes, "Every request is properly reviewed and vetted through a lengthy and thorough process."

Four of the earmark requests from Murtha’s office are for current or former clients of a lobbying firm, the PMA Group, that is currently under federal investigation for connection to possible "straw" donations to Murtha and other Democratic members of the House.

PMA Group clients include: Advanced Acoustic Concepts ($5 million request), Argon ST ($8 million request), MTS Technologies, Inc. ($5 million request) and Planning Systems Inc. ($2.3 million request).

Two requests totaling $3.7 million are for Pennsylvania State University, but the Murtha's office says they are not intended for the Electro Optic Center (EOC) in Freeport, Pa. which has received millions in defense contracts and has been the subject of recent scrutiny by the FBI.

CBS News previously reported that the EOC requested $120 million in spending through Murtha's office and a source told CBS that employees were urged to donate to Murtha so the center would get favorable treatment.

While a number of entities with connections to Murtha are under federal law enforcement scrutiny, Murtha himself has not been named as the target of the investigation.

Some men born stupid, while others have stupidity thrust upon them...I think in John Murtha's case it set in later. No one THAT stupid would have made it as a Marine officer. No, clearly he embraced his stupid sometime later--and he has embraced it in a big way.