Rep. Johnson, colleagues call for full Congressional investigation of "Chamberleaks" scandal

20 members of U.S. House call for hearings on planned ‘dirty-tricks’ campaign that targeted critics of U.S. Chamber of Commerce

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), along with 19 colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives, today called for a full and immediate Congressional investigation of evidence that three prominent defense and intelligence contactors and a leading Washington, D.C., law firm planned a dirty-tricks campaign to undermine and discredit critics of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

A series of e-mails recently revealed to the public indicates that defense contractors HBGary Federal, Berico Technologies, and Palantir Technologies may have conspired to conduct an unethical and possibly illegal campaign to undermine American citizens and organizations, including national labor unions, U.S. Chamber Watch, and the Center for American Progress.

“We are deeply concerned by evidence that intelligence contractors may have engaged in a criminal conspiracy to target American citizens on behalf of powerful corporate interests,” said Johnson. “We believe a full Congressional investigation is warranted to determine whether laws were broken and whether existing laws are sufficient to protect Americans from high-tech dirty tricks.”

Johnson sent the letter asking for an investigation to chairs of the House Judiciary, Armed Services, Intelligence and Oversight and Government Reform committees.

Co-signers of the letter include Bruce Braley (IA-01), Donna Edwards (MD-04), Keith Ellison (MN-05), Bob Filner (CA-51), Barney Frank (MA-04), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Mike Honda (CA-15), Luis Gutiérrez (IL-04), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL-02), Shelia Jackson Lee (TX-18), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Barbara Lee (CA-09), Jim McDermott (WA-07), Chris Murphy (CT-05), Tim Ryan (OH-17), Pete Stark (CA-13), Ed Towns (NY-10), Betty Sutton (OH-13), Maxine Waters (CA-35), Peter Welch (At-Large-VT).

Congressman Johnson, who is entering his third term, serves on the House Armed Services and Judiciary Committees.

Click HERE to view the letter in full.

Democrats call for an investigation of law firm, 3 tech companies: A group of House Democrats is calling on Republican leaders to investigate a prominent Washington law firm and three federal technology contractors, who have been shown in hacked e-mails discussing a “disinformation campaign” against foes of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Source: Washington Post

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