EX-NASA official goes on trial for steering millions to MSU

A former high-ranking NASA official went on trial Monday on charges that he steered nearly $10 million to a consulting client and lied about it.

Prosecutors told the jury during opening arguments they would prove Courtney Stadd abused the power of his government office to line his own pockets and mislead ethics officials.

Stadd's lawyer insisted his client was only carrying out the orders of NASA Administrator Michael Griffin when he insisted in 2005 that $12 million of the money be spent in the state of Mississippi.

The client, Mississippi State University, ended up with $9.6 million of the funds. ...



http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/17620/

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Ex-top NASA employee found guilty of steering money to MSU


A former top NASA employee was found guilty today of violating ethics laws by steering $9.6 million to a consulting client.

Courtney Stadd, NASA's former chief of staff and White House liaison, was accused of enriching himself and helping a consulting client get the grants.

Stadd had left NASA in 2003 and started a consulting business, but he returned in 2005 as the agency's interim No. 3 official.

Stadd also had steered $12 million in agency funds for earth science research to the state of Mississippi, and most ended up with one of his clients, Mississippi State University.


http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/17680/



-- Edited by info on Thursday 6th of August 2009 05:08:46 PM

-- Edited by info on Thursday 6th of August 2009 05:09:56 PM