Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Calif.), ranking minority member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released on Oct. 17 the executive summary of the committee’s special counsel report that says former Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham steered $70 million to $80 million towards contractors who bribed him. The report finds that Cunningham, already convicted on other charges, steered additional funds to contractors via earmarks in intelligence legislation. Release of this document has infuriated committee chair Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) because, he says Harman did not have committee consent. He also says in a statement that the report is “incomplete,” but acknowledges it at least finds “no instances of wrongdoing on the part of other committee members.” However, he called Harman’s action “disturbing and beyond the pale.”
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.
