Michelle Malkin » Hmmm: Obama technology official’s office raided by FBI; employee charged in bribery sting

Hmmm: Obama technology official’s office raided by FBI; employee charged in bribery sting

By Michelle Malkin • March 12, 2009 11:21 AM

WTOP reporting:

The FBI is serving a search warrant at the office of D.C.’s Chief Technology Officer, WTOP has learned.

“We are there as part of a continuing ongoing criminal investigation,” FBI Washington Field Office spokesperson Katherine Schweit tells WTOP.

Schweit would not comment on the details of the investigation.

There are at least a dozen FBI agents – including evidence technicians – at the office, located at 1 Judiciary Square on 4th Street in Northwest, WTOP’s Mark Segraves reports.

Most of the employees have been told to go home. Other employees have been segregated into a waiting room.

A spokesman for D.C.’s U.S. Attorney tells WTOP he cannot discuss the investigation, as it is currently sealed.

On March 5, President Barack Obama named D.C. Chief Technology Officer Vivek Kundra as the federal government’s chief information officer.

***

Here’s the DC OCTO website.

The WaPo called Kundra D.C.’s “kinetic tech czar.”

Here’s the announcement of his appointment to the Obama administration.

Here’s vid of Kundra explaining how he got into public service:

***

Update: Employee nabbed in federal bribery sting…

An official in the D.C. government’s office of the chief technology officer has been arrested in a federal bribery sting, according to law enforcement sources.

Yusuf Acar, 40, was taken into custody this morning by FBI agents at his home in Northwest Washington, the sources said. The nature of the charges could not be determined. Channing Phillips, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, declined to comment on the arrest, saying the case “is under seal.”

Acar serves as an information systems security officer in the D.C. government. He worked for Vivek Kundra, the District’s chief technology officer. Kundra recently left D.C. government to become President Obama’s federal chief information officer. Kundra’s deputy, Thomas Jones, is acting as the interim director, city officials said.

Mafara Hobson, a spokeswoman for the mayor, declined to comment this morning.

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Comments

#1

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:23 am, Misscheryl said:

yuck, yuck, yuck…
#2

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:24 am, rotarymunkey said:

Flip over a rock, watch the cockroaches scramble… “Nothing to see here folks, just Democrats at work. Move along nicely and watch American Idol…”
#3

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:26 am, emjem24 said:

And the culture of corruption grows…

Can’t wait for the next Obummer swamp monster to come out to play (props to Laura Ingraham).
#4

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:27 am, On-my-soap-box said:

“We are there as part of a continuing ongoing criminal investigation,”

In DC? They will be busy for decades.
#5

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:30 am, DBNinKY said:

On March 5, President Barack Obama named D.C. Chief Technology Officer Vivek Kundra as the federal government’s chief information officer.

Man oh man, from tax cheats to felons, can Obama pick ‘em or can Obama pick ‘em!
#6

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:31 am, Misscheryl said:

Man oh man, from tax cheats to felons, can Obama pick ‘em or can Obama pick ‘em!

you know the saying, “they’ll know you by the company you keep.”
#7

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:32 am, cheapseat said:

have we reached 60 days yet. collapsed the stock market, p.o.ed europe, israel, russia, and china, spent 4 times bush’s budget deficit, broken every campaign pledge he made, but had great parties complete with kobi beef. sounds a lot like rome’s nero.
#8

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:33 am, On-my-soap-box said:

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:30 am, DBNinKY said:

Man oh man, from tax cheats to felons, can Obama pick ‘em or can Obama pick ‘em!

Does this fall under the “we are not going to do business as usual” catagory? Seems they are lowering the bar to make that point!
#9

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:35 am, DBNinKY said:

Seems they are lowering the bar to make that point!

And at a record pace!
#10

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:37 am, PBoilermaker said:

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:32 am, cheapseat said:

have we reached 60 days yet. collapsed the stock market, p.o.ed europe, israel, russia, and china, spent 4 times bush’s budget deficit, broken every campaign pledge he made, but had great parties complete with kobi beef. sounds a lot like rome’s nero.

Don’t forget that the media is even more enamored with him now despite all of this.

Oh yeah, it’s apparently still impossible to make jokes about any of this on late night tv and comedy central, too.
#11

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:38 am, Kokonut said:

Acar, who began working for the city in Nov. 2004, earns $127,468. He is listed as having purchased a house in Northwest Washington for $1.4 million in 2006.

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/danielle-sacks/ad-verse-effect/why-fbi-raiding-obamas-new-cios-office

Hmmm…..maybe Rezko helped him get that house?
#12

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:39 am, DBNinKY said:

“they’ll know you by the company you keep.”

Absolutely! Pelosi might wanna qualify the “ever” in her “most ethical” statement.
#13

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:39 am, cpodug said:

If they keep lowering the bar, at this rate, it won’t be long before it starts back up – on the other side of the world!
#14

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:39 am, flmom said:

Seems they are lowering the bar to make that point!

That must be the same bar that Michelle O was complaining was always being raised. She and the One have obviously found the solution to that.
#15

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:50 am, WarTip said:

And how long was William Jeffeson in office even after they found 90K in marked money in his freezer?

Dunno about the change part but it seems they all hope to get in on the action.
#16

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:53 am, pueblo1032 said:

THE APPLE DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE…
#17

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:55 am, Pasadena Phil said:

Everybody calm down. It’s probably just another big misunderstanding. Once all the facts are out, I’m sure we’ll learn that it was just the latest of many conspiratorial plots by “the Jooos” to undermine another fine citizen.
#18

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:57 am, DBNinKY said:

O/T: I heard this morning that on paper, some Madoff investors made a fifty percent return on their investment and paid taxes on that money. If true, doesn’t the government owe these people a refund? After all, there were no real profits earned.

What’s more, why didn’t someone at the IRS catch on to what was happening – they were taxing these people and examining their returns, surely something stood out?
#19

On March 12th, 2009 at 11:57 am, walterc said:

“Change you can believe in.”

I believe I’ll keep stocking up on food and ammo.
#20

On March 12th, 2009 at 12:07 pm, Flyoverman said:

Queue the teleprompter…….
#21

On March 12th, 2009 at 12:07 pm, flenser said:

What, the American government cannot find any Americans to work in its “technology” department?
#22

On March 12th, 2009 at 12:11 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

Just out, Justice Department is investigating Sheriff Joe for enforcing immigration laws. Instigated by the usual open borders agitators.
#23

On March 12th, 2009 at 12:31 pm, Flyoverman said:

On March 12th, 2009 at 12:11 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

Just out, Justice Department is investigating Sheriff Joe for enforcing immigration laws. Instigated by the usual open borders agitators.

This is the kind of thing I love in politics. Ity is just as if the NBA rules committee defines what traveling is in an NBA BB game and publishes their decision in the official NBA Rules Book. An NBA referee, who is dedicated to his profession, diligently studies the rule book and then without bias or exception enforces the rule on traveling.

When a small group of fans complains that the referee is actually enforcing the traveling rule, the rules committee decides it needs to investigate the conduct of the referee.

There are times that politicians do not even quality as life forms.
#24

On March 12th, 2009 at 12:33 pm, walterc said:

Pasadena Phil said:

Just out, Justice Department is investigating Sheriff Joe for enforcing immigration laws. Instigated by the usual open borders agitators.

Which begs the question, would we be doing this investigation of Sheriff Joe had he been nominated to a cabinet post?

Then again, he would never be nominated for this administration, he doesn’t have a criminal record yet.
#25

On March 12th, 2009 at 12:35 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

Sleep with dogs, wake up with the fleas of a thousand camels, going “Wha happen?”

More cheese Gromit! (munching popcorn)
#26

On March 12th, 2009 at 12:36 pm, prendad said:

More stupidity from a juvenile occupant of the white house who refuses to get involved with his incompetent cabinet underlings. Too busy reading his glorious speeches from his teleprompter, secretly signing controversial bills with no press coverage and secretly writing letters selling out our allies in Europe. Party-on Barack.
#27

On March 12th, 2009 at 12:42 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

And the hits just keep coming.

I look forward to the day when whoever is left in Law Enforcement that’s not bought and paid for by Obama, to follow the trail back to Obama’s administration. It’s coming. And while his gang has put up barriers, there will be a leak somewhere. Especially with all those bodies getting tossed under the bus. It’s just a matter of time.
#28

On March 12th, 2009 at 12:43 pm, prendad said:

Loyal democrat serfs can still get their Obama victory t-shirts for only a nominal contribution to the imperious leader’s party:

Make a donation of $30 or more now to help the DNC recover the resources it took to win, and we’ll send you a 2008 Victory T-shirt.

Get yours now. . .or wait a few weeks and get them for half price at Home Shopping Club or Walgreens.
#29

On March 12th, 2009 at 12:57 pm, flenser said:

According to Washington City Paper a second arrest has been made: Sushil Bansal.
#30

On March 12th, 2009 at 1:02 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

Errah, next the dumocrats in congress will want a full investigation of these rogue FBI agents who did this to an innocent administration official. . . . developing.
#31

On March 12th, 2009 at 1:20 pm, happyscrapper said:

On March 12th, 2009 at 12:42 pm, NJ-Aviator said:
And the hits just keep coming.

I look forward to the day when whoever is left in Law Enforcement that’s not bought and paid for by Obama, to follow the trail back to Obama’s administration. It’s coming. And while his gang has put up barriers, there will be a leak somewhere. Especially with all those bodies getting tossed under the bus. It’s just a matter of time.

Ant then, just watch all the truths that come out…his true origin of birth, his college transcripts (or non-transcripts, as the case may be), his “friends” from the past that have so far been strangely silent, etc. etc. I am filling my already well-stocked larder with tons of popcorn. This stuff seems to be hitting the fan, a little at a time, every single day. Hey, Odumbo, you can run, but you can’t hide forever!
#32

On March 12th, 2009 at 1:20 pm, Pessimist said:

I think the real story here is how all these people are getting caught. Why haven’t their transgressions been swept under the rug, safely out of the light of day?

Could there be a “counter coup” of sorts going on within the gvt?

Anybody here from the Clintons lately?
#33

On March 12th, 2009 at 1:21 pm, happyscrapper said:

Hmmmm…I wonder if this guy has anything to do with the hacking of Sen. Coleman’s database of contributors…! It is creating quite a problem for Coleman and is affecting badly needed contributions. Wouldn’t surprise me.
#34

On March 12th, 2009 at 1:23 pm, happyscrapper said:

On March 12th, 2009 at 1:20 pm, Pessimist said:
I think the real story here is how all these people are getting caught. Why haven’t their transgressions been swept under the rug, safely out of the light of day?

Could there be a “counter coup” of sorts going on within the gvt?

Wow…that would be wonderful, wouldn’t it? Maybe there is something afoot that we don’t know about. I pray for that! Don’t say it too loud…we don’t want to tell any secrets!
#35

On March 12th, 2009 at 1:30 pm, Khyris said:

Seems they are lowering the bar to make that point!

The bar is in free-fall.

No, Ted, I did not say “the bar is free”
#36

On March 12th, 2009 at 1:32 pm, AlohaGuy said:

The nature of the charges could not be determined. Channing Phillips, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, declined to comment on the arrest, saying the ~~case~~ birth certificate “is under seal.”

Hehe, my own little version of the news..
#37

On March 12th, 2009 at 1:41 pm, right4life said:

Errah, next the dumocrats in congress will want a full investigation of these rogue FBI agents who did this to an innocent administration official. . . . developing.

thats right uncle Keg I mean Ted…the FBI is OBVIOUSLY RACIST to investigate these poor victims of the white male power structure…

~~power~~ liquor to the people!!
#38

On March 12th, 2009 at 1:52 pm, right_on said:

Vivek, Yusuf, Mafara? Does anyone else see a trend developing here (besides a group with unusual names)?

I, for one, would like to know more about these people, their connections, and affiliations.
#39

On March 12th, 2009 at 1:57 pm, happyscrapper said:

On March 12th, 2009 at 1:52 pm,

right_on said:
Vivek, Yusuf, Mafara? Does anyone else see a trend developing here (besides a group with unusual names)?

I, for one, would like to know more about these people, their connections, and affiliations.

Good catch. Definitely needs further investigation. I am really amazed, though, that anyone in Obama’s administration is actually being investigated. His house of cards may be starting to fall as we speak.
#40

On March 12th, 2009 at 2:04 pm, flenser said:

Vivek, Yusuf, Mafara?

They seem to be Indian. I guess that high paying IT jobs are just one more example of jobs that Amercans won’t do.
#41

On March 12th, 2009 at 2:11 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

“Vivek, Yusuf, Mafara? Does anyone else see a trend developing here (besides a group with unusual names)?”

Arrest all little old ladies! Worked for airliner security.
#42

On March 12th, 2009 at 2:40 pm, iamsaved said:

Obama appears to be batting 1000. Of course, his past associations with people like William Ayers, Jeremiah Wright and a long list of others didn’t tell the story did it? Obama just has bad luck in picking good people to surround himself with.

Of course, the looney left and the MSM chose to ignore all of that and still do. It’s a vast, right wing conspiracy to get at Obama.
#43

On March 12th, 2009 at 2:59 pm, ClassicFilm said:

The Messiah is playing right into Rush Limbaugh’s dastardly plot…
mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Give this inept Obama administration enough rope, and they’ll flay and whip each other silly before eating each other alive.
#44

On March 12th, 2009 at 4:30 pm, Joy said:

What is this, Comedy Thursday?

Shocking, just shocking…

Not…
#45

On March 12th, 2009 at 4:49 pm, Leatherneck said:

Are those moon god worshiping names? BLT, and moon god worship go hand in hand.
#46

On March 12th, 2009 at 6:27 pm, dadinseattle said:

Okay- when is officially time to panic?

We are flying upside down and our ailerons are frozen, and the pilot has never performed a loop! Help!

Let’s remember never to let this happen again, Democrats cannot govern themselves much less others!
#47

On March 12th, 2009 at 6:32 pm, CO2 Producer said:

Just for clarification, since I found the whole OCTO/CIO thing confusing enough to read more: the OCTO office that was raided is under the City of Washington DC’s jurisdiction, which Kundra headed until his federal CIO appointment a week ago.

I question the timing of the appointment. May just be coincidental, or…

From the WTOP link above:

AITC has been working with the D.C. government since 2004. Once Kundra took over as D.C. Chief Technology Officer in March 2007, AITC’s contracts doubled to more than $5 million in 2008.
#48

On March 12th, 2009 at 6:37 pm, CO2 Producer said:

Ack. Poorly worded. Let me rephrase:

The raided OCTO office, which Kundra headed until his federal CIO appointment a week ago, is under the City of Washington DC’s jurisdiction.

You know what I meant.
#49

On March 13th, 2009 at 9:06 am, Cosmo said:

I’m fairly certain that when The Messiah mentioned that this would be “the most transparent administration ever” he wasn’t thinking it would happen over police scanners, through media access to courtrooms and and endless slew of appointees making public withdrawals from consideration.

ADMINISTRATION EPIC FAIL