U.S. contractor ArmorGroup pays feds $7.5 million to resolve false payment allegations
There is new fallout from the turmoil surrounding the U.S. State Department's contract with a company providing guards for its Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan --- a story exposed by CBS News in 2009.
Federal investigators: Korean company abused stimulus funds
A blower manufactured by Kturbo Inc. in Korea.
Written by CBS Investigates Intern Rahul Sinha and Producer Laura Strickler
A Korean company, Kturbo, Inc., is under federal investigation for allegedly duping four U.S. municipalities into spending $2 million in stimulus funds on products the company said were assembled in the United States when they were actually made and assembled in Korea.
The Buy American provision of the 2009 Recovery Act requires that stimulus funds can only be used for products that were manufactured or assembled in the U.S.
In statement late today HeonSeok Lee, CEO of Kturbo, Inc., told CBS News his company "made a few mistakes but [they were] not intentional." In his statement, Lee also alleged the U.S. government is overpaying for inefficient blowers offered by Kturbo's competitors.
Continue »ATF head talks "gunwalking" to investigators
(Credit:
CBS/AP)
ATF's acting director has told Congressional investigators his agency made mistakes in its "Fast and Furious" operation which allowed thousands of American guns to be delivered across the Mexican border into the hands of the drug cartels according to two members of Congress who have investigated the matter.
Continue »President Obama on Gunwalker: 'We've got to Find Out How That Happened'
WASHINGTON - Today at his news conference, President Obama was asked about the unfolding gunwalker scandal, and whether ATF leadership will be replaced.
Mr. Obama answered, "My attorney general has made clear that he certainly would not have ordered gun running to be able to pass through into Mexico. ... I'm not going to comment on -- a on a current investigation. I've made very clear my views that that would not be an appropriate step by the ATF, and we've got to find out how that happened."
Project Gunrunner scandal uncovered at ATF
Mr. Obama added, "As soon as the investigation is completed, I think appropriate actions will be taken."
This week, the Senate confirmed three Obama-nominated Justice Department officials in a deal that will give Congressional investigators access to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms documents that have been withheld for months. The bigger part of the deal, however, is that ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson will provide a "transcribed interview" to Republican and Democratic investigators in mid-July.
Melson is the highest-ranking official involved in the so-called gunwalker scandal to agree to be interviewed. For more than a week, Melson has resisted calls to resign from Republican members of Congress and critics. That after testimony and documents revealed he was fully briefed and engaged in the controversial plan to allow thousands of assault rifles and other weapons to be sold to suspected traffickers for Mexican drug cartels. Investigators have been trying to figure out who knew what, when at the Justice Department, which oversees ATF. They believe Melson may be able to provide some of that information.
Agent: I was ordered to let guns into Mexico
The president has said neither he nor Attorney General Eric Holder approved the operation known as "Fast and Furious." The Inspector General, the House Oversight Committee under Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are investigating.
ATF explains award to 'Fast and Furious' agent
On the CBS Early Show this morning, we told you that ATF had just given a national award to the Phoenix ATF agent in charge of the controversial Fast and Furious case.
Continue »Sexual assault investigations not DOD priority
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AP / CBS)
Sexual assault investigations and related training for investigators are not a high priority for the Department of Defense Inspector General's Office, according to a recent government report.
The report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), found the DOD IG's office has not developed a policy and sufficiently overseen sexual assault investigations conducted by the various DOD criminal investigation organizations. The report also accuses the office of not providing adequate training for sexual assault investigators. The Department of Defense Inspector General's office is responsible for reviewing sexual assault investigations to see if they were conducted properly. In 2009, 3,230 sexual assault investigations were reported.
Continue »Another Murder Linked to US Gunwalker Case
Purported hostage video posted on YouTube.
(Credit: ElResumenTV/YouTube )CBS News has confirmed that ATF Fast and Furious "walked" guns have been linked to the terrorist torture and murder of the brother of a Mexican state attorney general last fall.
Continue »Gov. Perry signs rape kit bill into law
The bill, which goes into effect September 1, aims to reduce the backlog of untested rape kits piling up in storage across the state. The rape kit backlog not only delays justice for rape victims, but also reduces the likelihood that rapists will be brought to justice at all. The bill
Continue »Rep. Issa counters anonymous critics
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Meth lab seizures drop when funds dry up
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - In Memphis, the war on drugs is a door-to-door fight. CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports the enemy is increasingly methamphetamine.
"Meth has taken away the past three years," said Kim. "Long, depressing three years of my life that I won't get back.
Kim is an innocent victim. On Wednesday, the father of her 2-year-old daughter, Marcus Pritchett, was arrested on a felony drug charge.
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