If you’ve been watching any major (or even minor) news network, reading the newspaper, or even major online news sources, then you haven’t heard about Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s resignation as chair of the Military Construction Appropriations sub-committee. While this in and of itself may be minor news, the situation surrounding her resignation is anything but, yet is being grossly under-reported. In fact, the story was broken by the small bay area MetroActive.

Many Democrats came to hold their position (or keep their position) in November by claiming they would clean up the “culture of corruption” in D.C. Irony and hypocrisy aside, many American’s bought it, as did the major news outlets. So, it should have come as a surprise to the MSM that Sen. Feinstein–who sits on the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, which oversees ethics reform–had been the chairperson of the Military Appropriations sub-committee, voting on military appropriations with direct financial benefits for her husband’s companies.

This includes two large defense contractors, Perini and URS. Sen. Feinstein made a great deal of money through investment in these companies, and despite the obvious conflict of interest, she continued voting on these bills. But the story doesn’t end there. Senator Feinstein not only voted on these bills, she was supplied insider information about specific funds and projects that Perini had financial interests in by her Attorney, Michael Klein. MetroActive reports:

Klein stated that, beginning in 1997, he routinely informed Feinstein about specific federal projects coming before her in which Perini had a stake. The insider information, Klein said, was intended to help the senator avoid conflicts of interest…

“We basically identified any bid that Perini was going for and checked to see whether it was the subject of already appropriated funds or funds yet to be appropriated, and if it was anything that the senator could not act on, her office was alerted and she did not act on it.”

This is an extraordinary thing for Klein and the senator to do, since the detailed project proposals that the Pentagon sent to Feinstein’s subcommittee for review do not usually name the firms already contracted to perform specific projects… In theory, Feinstein would not know the identity of any of the companies that stood to contractually benefit from her approval of specific items in the military construction budget–until Klein told her.

However, the public record shows that contrary to Klein’s belief, Feinstein did act on legislation that affected Perini and URS.

In short, Sen. Feinstein received insider information about Perini, then voted on bills that benefitted Perini and URS, profitting tremendously in the process.

As of tonight, the San Francisco Chronicle, CNN.com, The New York Times, Foxnews.com, and any other major media outlet have failed to report the story.

Posted by The Gentle Cricket

1. [...] Original post by thegentlecricket and software by Elliott Back [...]

   Pingback by Senator Feinstein Ethics Scandal at Conservative Times--Republican GOP news source. — April 1, 2007 @ 11:07 pm

2. [...] Senator Diane Feinstein is currently under the quietest dark cloud on Capitol Hill. It might go unnoticed entirely but for some fine bloggers that are on the trail. From our friend California Conservative: Many Democrats came to hold their position (or keep their position) in November by claiming they would clean up the “culture of corruption” in D.C. Irony and hypocrisy aside, many American’s bought it, as did the major news outlets. So, it should have come as a surprise to the MSM that Sen. Feinstein–who sits on the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, which oversees ethics reform–had been the chairperson of the Military Appropriations sub-committee, voting on military appropriations with direct financial benefits for her husband’s companies. [...]

   Pingback by Hang Right Politics - Archives » Three Monkeys On A California Scandal — April 3, 2007 @ 2:30 am

3. Is Feinstein Ethically Challenged?…

   From California Conservative comes a story of some questionable activity by Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
   Sen. Feinstein sits on the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, which oversees ethics reform–had been the chairperson of the Military Appropr…

   Trackback by J's Cafe Nette — April 3, 2007 @ 3:42 am

4. [...] Filed Under: Miscellania I’m flabbergasted. Not long ago I posted about Senator Feinstein’s Ethics Scandal here on California Conservative. Texas Rainmaker is blogging about it, too. [...]

   Pingback by California Conservative » Blame the Republicans — May 2, 2007 @ 12:22 pm

5. [...] I’m flabbergasted. Not long ago I posted about Senator Feinstein’s Ethics Scandal here on California Conservative. Texas Rainmaker is blogging about it, too. [...]

   Pingback by Blame the Republicans at Conservative Times--Republican GOP news source. — May 2, 2007 @ 12:24 pm

6. [...] Filed Under: California, Elections, Feinstein, DNC, Corruption I’m flabbergasted. Not long ago I posted about Senator Feinstein’s Ethics Scandal here on California Conservative. Texas Rainmaker is blogging about it, too. [...]

   Pingback by California Conservative » Blame the Republicans — May 5, 2007 @ 9:29 am

1. THE MSM HAS FAILED TO REPORT IT BECAUSE SHE IS A DEMOCRAT/LIBERAL AND FROM SAN FRANCISCO. ONCE AGAIN APPARENTLY THE ONLY TIME YOU GET HAMMERED BY THE NEWS MEDIA IS IF YOUR A CONSERVATIVE AND A REPUBLICAN.

   Comment by RICHARD DAUGHERTY — April 2, 2007 @ 12:34 pm

2. So why can we not buy the major media outlets and then replace all of the reporters and editors?

   Comment by Michael Ejercito — April 3, 2007 @ 8:35 am

3. I think the sellers of these large print medias will only sell to Dems, and many of them are rich, contrary to their peasant ideology.

   Comment by Tomdummy — April 5, 2007 @ 8:50 pm

4. Here is another case of a crooked politician..Why doesn’t Pelosi look into this?? Maybe its the same reason she will not prosecute Jefferson, you remember, the guy who hid 80.000.00$ in his ice box?? Of coure the reason is, “People in glass houses, do not throw stones”, which just means that Pelosi is as crooked as the next politician, all of whom will, and have sold out to anyone waving money at them..Under our present sysem of electing,,they are bought before they are even elected..So, do not expect any loyalty to us citizens..but–we can—NEVER RE ELECT ANY POLITICIAN..EVER..

   Comment by Harold J Macek — April 13, 2007 @ 4:28 am

5. Here we go again, good ol’ Democratic ethics reform.

   Comment by R. Guise — April 13, 2007 @ 8:55 am

6. It’s really too bad that you all lump all newspapers and media outlets into one giant liberal conspiracy. I am sure that Fox News would take exception to being called a “liberal” media outlet, yet they don’t seem to find this bit of information you discuss newsworthy. Similarly, the highly conservative Manchester Union Leader, the largest newspaper in New Hampshire, has yet to mention this story.

   How do you explain these two very conservation MSM’s, as you like to call them, haven’t reported the story? Or is part of your thesis that conservative media is somehow not as competent as liberal media?

   Comment by Terry Kepner — April 13, 2007 @ 9:56 am

7. So what, she learned how it is done by watching the V.P.

   Comment by Bill — April 13, 2007 @ 10:29 am

8. Sorry Bill, try as the Libs might, to put the V.P. in the same catagory, unsuccessfully, your girl Feinsteiny has proven she is really just a heiny. Ethics smethics, she needs to go along with a bunch of others just like her. Both sides of the aisle. As soon as true Constitution loving Americans wake up and vote the unethical polititions out, the better this country will be….if we’re still here

   Comment by Thom — April 13, 2007 @ 2:06 pm

9. Oh My - A crooked politician. This is a shocking surprise. Given the source on this, however, one is reminded of the mock ‘Pelosi One’ scandal.

   When will you get a clue on this stuff. No matter how many fake red herrings these conservative liars put out, we need to keep in mind that they are small potatos compared to the real scandals.

   We have an executive branch so corrupt they cannot travel internationally without fear of being arrested as war criminals.

   Let Pelosi have her plane, Feinstein her mini version of Cheney’s game, etc. Just stop destroying our country.

   Comment by Alex The Lib — April 13, 2007 @ 2:31 pm

10. keep looking…
    never is there just one cockroach in the kitchen.

    Comment by David Smith — May 2, 2007 @ 10:29 am

11. Hi My Name Is ivafmd.

    Comment by ivakax — May 13, 2007 @ 1:34 am