Defense contractor accused of illegal campaign contributions

A San Diego-based defense contractor was indicted Tuesday for making illegal campaign contributions to five members of Congress in order "to win lucrative U.S. government contracts for an air-to-ground missile system," the Associated Press reported.

Science and Applied Technology Inc. President Parthasarathi Majumder "is charged with 40 counts, including conspiracy [and] making illegal campaign contributions" that totaled more than $75,000 over eight years, Asst. U.S. Attorney Phillip Halpern said.

GOP Reps. Randy (Duke) Cunningham and Duncan Hunter of California, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., and former Rep. Joe Scarborough, R-Fla., all received donations from Majumder.

Science and Applied Technology has received more than $150 million from the U.S. government since 1990 to develop the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile, a missile that may replace Raytheon Corp.'s AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile.