Lobbyist at center of investigation arrested, charged
Washington (CNN) - The founder and head of a now-defunct lobbying firm accused of providing illegal campaign contributions to members of Congress was arrested by FBI agents and charged Thursday.
Paul Magliocchetti, president of the once-influential PMA Group, was charged with a scheme to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars from sham contributors to favored lawmakers to build his power and influence with Capitol Hill powerbrokers.
PMA's ties to lawmakers, including the late Congressman Jack Murtha, D-Pennsylvania, and Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Indiana, on behalf of defense contractors seeking earmarks, prompted a series of investigations. The House ethics committee determined the campaigns were unaware of the "straw" donors scheme secretly funded by PMA. No ethics charges resulted.
However, the FBI criminal probe nabbed Maggliocchetti, who appeared in court in Alexandria, Virginia, late Thursday. He was released on $2 million bond, with a judge instructing him to return to a psychiatric facility in Maryland where he has been undergoing treatment. His arraignment was set for August 13.
Meanwhile his son, Mark Magliocchetti, pleaded guilty Thursday in the same courthouse to related charges of making more than $120,000 in illegal corporate campaign contributions. His sentencing was set for November 16.
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Lobbying needs to be banned............But of course, that's not gonna happen........Trying to find a politician that isn't on the take these day's is about as tough as proving Bigfoot's existence!!!!!
The House ethics committee determined the campaigns were unaware of the "straw" donors scheme secretly funded by PMA. No ethics charges resulted.
Gee go figure, another corrupt special interest lobbyist in jail for illegal contributions to the Democons. Whatever happened to ignorance is not an excuse in the court of law? Reminds me of the Clinton's...they just close their eyes and take the bag money, no questions asked.
will the congress people refund that "illegal" money?
Democrats should change their names to DemoCRUPTs now. American people should drain DemoCRUPT's pond from the bottom up.
Gee he raised funds for Democrats? What a shocker.
And I thought only Republicans were crooks.
NOT
Funny how the FBI didn't bust any GOP-oriented slush funds during the K-Street-Project days of G. W. Bush.
Funny how that works, isn't it...
I want to see a complete list of all the CORPORATE donations to Republicans, how much and when – it will become very obvious how Republicans betrayed the People for corporate greed.
Republicans care NOTHING about working Americans and no understanding of what it is like to do real work to provide for your family. They support outsourcing of American jobs and have destroyed the made in America industry.
It;s time to hole these Republican traitors accountable for siding with big business and Wall St to the detriment of the country and to the middle class.
NO Republicans in NOvember. They are dangerous to the future of America.
am ET
The democrats gained control of the house in 2006; however, not a single one of there policies where enacted into law until 2009 due to the power of veto held by the executive branch under republican control… So all ignorant bloggers out there can give up saying the economy crashed because dems took control… Its pathetic… And its destroying this country… Now that the dems are starting to right the ship because we are finally getting something done for the middle class… And can anyone show me proof of any money whatsoever going into the unions hand… With all the regulations set against unions from the past 30 years I should be able to find something but alas’ I cannot! I find it hard to believe its republicans just spewing lies… It must be out there somewhere… I’m pretty sure the auto bail out went to the company executives and not the union… That’s all I can find… Oh and that unions took a massive recession in pay and benifits to help their company… Try getting ten thousand non union workers to take a pay cut in such a time… Not gonna happen… Plus unions have womens right committees, veterans committees, civil right committees, and several others… People who make walmart wages still can’t compete to slave labor wages.. Stop being a corporate tool!
one more reason to get rid of lobbiest
Quick! Call Nancy Pelosi – the swamp is still full of Democrats.