WASHINGTON — The late Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) was on the radar screen of the FBI for many decades and died in February while under investigation for possible kickbacks from defense contractors, according to FBI documents released.
“This release contains public source information found in a Pittsburgh Division investigation into allegations of kickbacks involving government defense contractors,” the FBI said on its website. “Redactions were made to protect personal privacy. As this investigative file is still in “pending status,” the bulk of the file’s FBI documents are not releasable until the conclusion of the investigation.”
The released files included information on the FBI undercover operation known as ABSCAM that resulted in indictments of several politicians.
The FBI documents stated that “during the course of the operations, Abscam has developed prosecutive federal cases against” 15 people, including Murtha, the Associated Press reported.
Murtha was never charged, but he was named as an unindicted co-conspirator.
