FBI raids company that got Murtha earmarks

The Hill:

Federal agents raided the offices of a Western Pennsylvania defense contractor that has received millions in federal earmarks at the request of Rep. John Murtha, according to local media reports.

The offices of Kuchera Industries and Kuchera Defense Systems were shuttered for the day following the raids, the chief financial officer told the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat. The companies' phone system says they will open again Friday morning, and e-mails sent to top company officials went unanswered.

Based in Windber, Pa., just outside Johnstown, Kuchera won $8.2 million in federal defense earmarks in the 2008 budget. The earmarks came at the request of Murtha (D-Pa.).

Murtha's spokesman declined to comment, and an agent in the FBI's Pittsburgh office did not return calls seeking clarification.

The company has been active in politics, with top officials donating more than $100,000 in campaign contributions over the past decade, to both Democrats and Republicans.

The majority of that money, according to Federal Election Commission filings, has gone to Murtha; company officials gave their hometown congressman more than $56,000 in contributions in recent years. Sens. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.), as well as Reps. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) and David Hobson (R-Ohio) have taken money from Kuchera employees.

...

That sounds like a pretty good return on their investment in political contributions. The FBI has been poking around in Murtha's district for the last year. They are still tight lipped about what they have uncovered.

In the meantime Murtha has offered to host some Gitmo alumni who he seems to think will fit in well with his district that he calls racist and redneck.