FBI Eyes Charity Linked To Rep. Murtha

CBS News has learned the FBI is investigating a little-known not-for-profit organization called Commonwealth Research Institute. It's located, like a lot of Rep. John Murtha's, D-Penn., pet projects, in his hometown, Johnstown, Penn.

Commonwealth gets the same benefits as the Salvation Army or any other charity: It doesn't have to pay taxes. But its line of work may be surprising. It's a defense contractor. ....

For the biggest hint as to what Commonwealth is all about, it may help to know something about its parent company, Concurrent Technologies (Corporation - CTC). Concurrent is another defense contractor in Johnstown, also registered as a charity at the same address. And, with the help of Murtha and The PMA Group, a lobby firm that's also under FBI investigation, Concurrent has gotten a billion dollars-plus in defense contracts and earmarks.

Concurrent employees have also given Murtha’s campaign over $95,000 in donations since 2002.

....At last week's annual defense trade show in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, an Associated Press reporter asked Murtha about another local defense contractor also under investigation, Kuchera Industries. Kuchera was just suspended from getting any new contracts with the U.S. Navy. A Navy spokesperson cited the reason for the suspension as "alleged fraud." CBS News affiliate WTAJ in Altoona captured the exchange.