Kerry backed contractor who made illegal donations

Democratic presidential front-runner 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 US warplanes, the Times said on its web site.

The letters were sent at a time when Majumder and employees at his Science and Applied Technology company were donating money to the Massachusetts Democrat, the article said, citing court records.

Kerry received about €19,400 during the period, according to Dwight 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 £130,000 (€193,600) in fines when he is sentenced.

The plea follows a December 18 civil settlement in which Majumder agreed to pay the government about £2m (€3m) for submitting false claims under a government contract.

He acknowledged making more than £50,000 (€74,400) in illegal donations to Kerry, and Republicans Duncan Hunter, Randy “Duke” Cunningham, John Murtha and Joe Scarborough, who is now retired.

None of the lawmakers or their staff was charged with any wrongdoing.

Majumder, a US citizen born in India, made the contributions between 1993 to 1998 and also encouraged his friends and colleagues to do so, according to the US attorney general’s office.

US election laws limit individual contributions to £600 (€893.30) to a candidate seeking federal office per campaign period. The law also prohibits corporations from giving money to candidates or using others to donate by proxy.