Same old stories from Jack Murtha today on CNN's Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer about the "alleged"
FBI surveillance tape from the "conservative publication"
The American Spectator.
At first he said, "I had no idea they were offering me money."
But he later acknowledged the agents put $50,000 in front of
him.
He still says he was "only interested in investment in my
district." CNN chose a rather innocuous quote about Murtha's
influence from the transcript. But let's go to the tape:
A business commitment that
makes it imperative for me to help him. Just, let me tell you
something. I'm sure if -- and there's a lot of things I've done up
here, with environmental regulations, with all kinds of waivers of
laws and regulations. If it weren't for being in the district,
people would say... "Well that son of a b****, I'm gonna tell you
something....This guy is, uh, you know, on the take." Well once
they say that, what happens? Then they start going around looking
for the goddamn money. So I want to avoid that by having some tie
to the district. That's all. That's the secret to the whole
thing.
"Right-wing smear because I oppose the policies of this
administration." I didn't mention the policies of the
administration. The word "smear" suggests that the article was
false. But he could not point out any inaccuracies. Murtha should
answer for his warm relationship with those offering him bribes.
Note that Murtha did not challenge the authenticity of the video
or the accuracy of the transcript. Go read it and judge for
yourself.