Congressman probes DHS link to sex case

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WASHINGTON, May 11 (UPI) -- The Department of Homeland Security may face investigation as part of a federal probe on prostitution and public officials.

A senior Republican on the Homeland Security Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives called a meeting late Tuesday with the Department of Homeland Security's chief procurement officer to demand answers on whether contracts were improperly awarded to a limousine service that is under federal investigation for possibly providing prostitutes to public officials, CongressDaily reported Wednesday.

House Homeland Security Management Subcommittee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., said he wanted Homeland Security procurement chief Elaine Duke to explain details of contracts to Shirlington Limousine and Transportation Inc., of Arlington, Va.

The FBI is investigating whether military contractors linked to former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham arranged for the company to provide prostitutes for him and other lawmakers. Cunningham pleaded guilty last fall to taking $2.4 million in bribes from military contractors, the report said.

Shirlington was awarded a five-year, $21.2 million contact last year to drive Homeland Security employees and officials around Washington. The company had previously received a $3.8 million contact in 2004.

"There didn't seem to be a lot of competition for a $21 million contract. Now that may not be a big contract in Washington, D.C., but in east Alabama it's a pretty good size," Rogers said. "How did this contract come about? Why (were) there no security investigations done? Who else was competing for this?"

Members of the full committee also plan to discuss the contract at a previously scheduled May 18 hearing on contracts, hiring processes and security clearances, CongressDaily said.