The American Spectator : Obama Security Breech

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Obama Security Breech

By The Prowler on 3.16.09 @ 6:09AM

The evolving story of Vivek Kundra. Also: UPDATE: Retraction on Jindal.

WHO IS VIVEK KUNDRA?
The Obama Administration is worried that yet another senior appointee has run into potential ethics issues one week into his new job.

According to one White House source, the Obama Administration asked its newly appointed chief technology officer to take a leave until the Department of Justice could provide the administration with additional information surrounding an FBI raid at the officer's former workplace, the Washington, D.C. Office of the Chief Technology Officer.

CTO Vivek Kundra had resigned from his D.C. post earlier this month to take the White House job; last Thursday the FBI raided the D.C. office, arresting Yusuf Acar, the acting chief security officer of the D.C. Office of the CTO, who was later charged with bribery of a public official, money laundering, wire fraud and conflict of interest. The FBI reported finding $70,000 in Acar's Northwest D.C. home.

When the White House was given head's up about the raid, the Justice Department informed the White House that Kundra was not a target of the investigation, but there are concerns at 1600 Pennsylvania that as more people are swept up in the burgeoning scandal, their appointee may get caught.

Also arrested, and complicating the White House's issues with Kundra, was Sushil Bansal, CEO of Advanced Integrated Technologies Corporation (AITC), who also faces bribery related charges.

Bansal is not a U.S. citizen, and is working here on a visa provided to foreign workers in "specialty" professions. Bansal's company has done work for the D.C. government since 2004, prior to Kundra's taking over the technology office. But when Kundra did take over the office, AITC's business more than doubled.

"What concerns us and the White House Counsel's office is that Kundra and Bansal seem to have a very tight relationship that was not discussed during the vetting process," says the White House source. The White House has determined that Kundra and Bansal also did business prior to Kundra's taking the D.C. job. When Kundra worked for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), it was as a consultant for a project at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Bansal's firm provided support to SAIC's contract work at HHS.

"We're still sorting things out," says the White House source. "But there appears to be a lot more to be cleared up than we originally thought."

RETRACTION
Over the weekend, The Prowler was contacted by a longstanding source on Capitol Hill, who has worked in House Republican leadership for several years. He detailed a story of a fundraiser that he claimed was held by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, hosted by Clark Country, Washington, Republican officials in Bellevue, Washington on March 5th, at the expense of Rep. Dave Reichert, who is expecting a tough re-election fight in 2010, and who had previously sought Jindal’s appearance for a fundraiser.

Our Capitol Hill source provided a local Washington State contact, who claimed that the event had taken place, going so far as to detail dollar amounts raised, and provided calendar entries and schedules to confirm that appeared to confirm the event. We have since learned that the information provided was false, and that the Clark County event for Jindal was canceled.

We apologize to Governor Jindal and his supporters for disseminating inaccurate information.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (19) | Leave a comment

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.16.09 @ 7:43AM

Barack Obama's continued selection of criminals or criminal wannabes helps bring about the change that Obama worked for during the campaign.

Instead of having corrupt government officials get discovered in potentially embarrassing investigations, Barack is using talent on loan from the cosmos, and discovering the talent himself that is needed to run a corrupt government.

For that, he gets my hearty endorsement. Unlike most of Washington, Obama is not the slightest bit embarrassed by going after what he desires most.

This entire concept makes it easier for him to lie to the public. Lying to the public empowers politicians, never the public.

In short, he's a success. How could anyone hope he will fail with all that he's got going on with tax cheats, lobbyists in his administration and disastrous picks in just about every position? The guy is a sheer genius in this area.

Combine that with elements from his past like associating with racist ministers like Jeremiah Wright, and unrepentant terrorists like Bill Ayres, and we have a lot to forward to in our future.

Basil Plumley| 3.16.09 @ 8:30AM

Memo to Dave Reichert; call Sarah Palin. Problem solved.

The fact that Jindal is willing to take bad advice is worrisome. Note to Jindal and his advisors; you are ticking off the very same folks who you are going to need in 2012 and beyond. They have very long memories. I recommend you all read How To Win Friends And Influence People.

You can get a copy of the book from Bob; his copy has never been read or opened.

As to Obama I would paraphrase that famous line from Casablanca; I am shocked, shocked to see corruption taint this Administration. Captain Renault would have a target rich environment.

Timothy L. Pennell| 3.16.09 @ 9:04AM

What is it with this guy? THESE are the people he wants, for Chief Technology Whatever? VIVEK? YUSAF? SUSHIL? What is this? A JOKE? there's no BOBS, or PETES, or JOES out there? This guy-OBAMA- reeks of HATING this Country. EVERYTHING about him screams: Look at me! I'm a MARXIST! I don't know about YOU, but I'm not ready for any YUSAF ACARS, to be in charge of ANYTHING! This America Hating, Far Left, PUKE, is the Fox in the Henhouse. He IS the Manchurian Candidate. And if you BELIEVE your BIBLE, he may very well be THE BEAST, that we've been forewarned of. Unbelievable.

Appleby| 3.16.09 @ 9:37AM

It's fun to open the paper every day and find another FOKZ (Friend of King Zero) sitting in the chair under the spotlight answering questions about where he was on the night of the 15th.

And to all those who voted for a corrupt Chicago politican and expected to get Jimmy Stewart --- well, maybe you should look at your ginormous tax increase as tuition.

Richard Szathmary| 3.16.09 @ 9:49AM

As in "Once more into the breech?" Or as in a pair of "breaches?" Pay better attention to spelling, Prowler!

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.16.09 @ 10:31AM

Did some say the beast? On the day after Obama was elected the Illinois state winning pick 3 was 666.

Look at the evening pick on 11/5/08.
http://www.illinoislottery.com/subsections/History/Win2008.htm

Thomas Grady| 3.16.09 @ 11:15AM

Erik Erikson at Red State said this about The Prowler's report:
"There’s just one problem: it’s not true. I’ve checked with Governor Jindal’s staff. A trip to Washington State had been planned, but was cancelled. The governor was not there. Geez. Welcome to the Republican circular firing squad."

If this is true, you guys at Prowler have lost credaility. Shame on you. I always thought you were pretty accurate.

Observer| 3.16.09 @ 2:10PM

Next time, perhaps contact Whoever you're criticizing to verify their side of the story?

T-Party| 3.16.09 @ 2:29PM

OK, so now that you have extended apologies to Governor Jindal, how about disclosing the name of the "source" that tried to smear the governor?

Smoking out smear merchants would seem to be a mission that Prowler would assign as to the highest priority -- if only as a matter of integrity and self respect. Indeed, the Prowler has its own credibility "smeared" by those whose lies receive widespread publicity with help from piss-poor vetting by the Prowler.

So how about it, Prowler? Who’s the smear scum that you aided and abetted?

It would be a very good thing for other folks to know the name of that liar so they can be on guard against spreading future lies from that same source. Or do you think that future lies by your source are not a very real possibility, and that keeping the identity to yourself will absolve Prowler of guilt for enabling those future lies?

If that's what you believe, think again. Real hard.

Hawkhealer| 3.16.09 @ 3:07PM

To be totally correct Mr. Szathmary:
I believe the correct quote is "Once More unto the breach...", Henry V Act3,scene1,1-6

MAS1916| 3.16.09 @ 3:53PM

Even for a CTO, $70,000 is a lot to have lying around the DC apartment. Can't wait to see how Team Obam spins this one. Especially can't wait to hear how this is George Bush's fault!

ruth| 3.16.09 @ 4:35PM

I had the worst sense of foreboding before Obama was elected, and he's even worse than I feared. Unbelievable how incompetent he is. It's amazing. Is anyone else worried about our national security or did the terroists just go away?

Michael Tomlinson| 3.16.09 @ 7:34PM

To quote a narcissistic ego-maniac “Sometimes loving your country demands you must tell the truth to power.” Republicans need to keep speaking the truth to the corrupt Obama administration with ethics that would make an average Chicago pol blush.

Starry Night| 3.17.09 @ 12:25AM

Obama's teleprompter is going to run for president in 2012. It's got more brains than the Obumbler.

CH| 3.17.09 @ 2:02PM

Obama's favorables are in free-fall; couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

CH| 3.18.09 @ 11:16PM

We agree with him, dumbass. You're so thick. Whew!

Heather| 3.19.09 @ 10:11PM

Interloper, you wouldn't know the truth from a hole in the ground. Buzz off, troll.

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