LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Presidential candidate John Kerry pressured Congress and the Pentagon to fund a missile system on behalf of a San Diego contractor who, years later, pleaded guilty to making illegal contributions to the senator and other politicians, according to the Los Angeles Times.
From 1996 to 1999, Kerry sent 28 letters urging the freeing of funds for an upgraded guided missile system Parthasarathi Majumder was trying to build for U.S. warplanes, the Times said on its Web site Wednesday night.
The letters were sent at a time when Majumder and employees at his Science and Applied Technology Inc. were donating money to the Massachusetts Democrat, the article said, citing court records.
Kerry received about $25,000 during the period, according to Dwight L. Morris and Associates, which tracks campaign donations.
Last week, Majumder pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal campaign contributions and defrauding the government. He could face up to six years in prison and more than $250,000 in fines when he is sentenced. |
