Contractor Appeals Conviction in Earmark Case

A defense contractor convicted of skimming money from projects funded by Congressional earmarks is appealing his conviction by arguing that his actions were approved as part of an effort by the military to skirt the regular appropriations process.

Richard Schaller, president of Schaller Engineering Inc., was convicted in July of working with Air Force employee Mark O’Hair to steer contracts to companies they owned, and destroying documents to cover up the scheme.

Schaller has filed documents to appeal his conviction and has laid out a defense that essentially argues the Air Force endorsed O’Hair’s effort to engage contractors and lobbyists to create a research and development program based on Congressional earmarks.

Read more: (Paul Singer, “Contractor Appeals Conviction in Earmark Case,” Roll Call, 11/13/09)