Shirlington Limousine sues as DHS decides to cut it out

[Rose Siding]

Source: The Hill

A Washington transportation company that was questioned in the Randy “Duke” Cunningham investigation is on the verge of losing its contract with the Department of Homeland Security, but has gone to federal court to keep it.....

“DHS crafted a procurement strategy around Shirlington so as to preclude it from competition,” claims the suit, which also refers to Shirlington’s owner, Christopher Baker. “Despite some people at DHS coming to his defense, apparently the procurement operation has succumbed to political pressure.”

Department officials say they changed the contract because it made business sense, not because of Cunningham or the questions Congress raised about Shirlington.

Shirlington became the target of congressional probes last spring when press reports linked the company to the Cunningham scandal........Shirlington has denied any involvement with prostitution. Yet the San Diego Union-Tribune cited a letter from Baker’s lawyer, Bobby Stafford, saying that Baker “provided limousine services for Mr. Wilkes for whatever entertainment he had in the Watergate” from the company’s founding in 1990 through the early 2000s. The letter also stated Baker was “never in attendance in any party where any women were being used for prostitution purposes.” Company officials say Stafford was not authorized to speak about those matters, and he made errors.

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/shirlington-limousine-sues-as-dhs-decides-to-cut-it-out-2007-04-10.html

[maddezmom]

1. I thought they lost it before this

:shrug:

K&R

[Robbien]

4. The renewal last year was quietly slipped into a Friday night news dump

I really hope they sue the pants off of the GOPers but expect this one is going to be quietly settled out of court.

[Botany]

2. So they no longer have the contract to take crooked congressmen ...

.... to parties along with getting hookers and young boys to service
the congressmen? Well kickbacks, blackmail, money laundering, bid
rigging, and using the federal dime to lubricate it all must have been
a hell of gig.

[wordpix]

10. I'm wondering what this is about: "colored by threats from DHS" in Sept.

That was BEFORE mid-term elections when repukes were in charge of all 3 branches.

snip: While working out plans for the new contract, the department gave Shirlington a temporary contract in September. Shirlington claims the temporary contract came after “several rounds of negotiations colored by threats from DHS.”

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

3. Ooooooooh. . .this ought to be good

I can't wait to see what comes out in discovery.

:popcorn:

[wordpix]

9. yes, this is a GOOD thing. Popcorn & beer! Will be a hoot hearing how this DHS contractor

used our tax dollar$ in the name of national security to drive repukes to parties with prostitutes. :rofl: And where there are prostitutes, there are often drugs! :beer: :popcorn:

[SemperEadem]

5. I doubt he made errors

If they dig deep enough, they will find more to back up that truth. A frivolous lawsuit launched by someone with entitlement issues.

[babylonsister]

6. Good! I'm glad this is rearing its ugly head again, and here's

an old DU thread to refresh your memories!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1042958

[gratuitous]

7. Am I reading this right?

Shirlington Limousine is suing on the theory that they have some sort of right to be corrupt and have the government pay them to do it? Yeah, the discovery phase should be a real popcorn treat.

[Solo_in_MD]

8. That is not quite right...

When the Feds compete a contract, its supposed to be a fair and open competition and strucutred to inculde as many possible competitiors as possible. The limo company is complaining that the contract has been structured to exclude them. Without reveiwing the docucmentation, you really can't know one way or the other. Once the company files, their reasoning should be availble puclicly. There are contractual complaint processes that do not include court action. Its not clear if those were used or if they went directly to the courts.

[Gabi Hayes]

11. how could this be more obvious?

Procurement strategy?

come on! the DHS procurement strategy that left out Shirlington was their.....uh, procurement strategy. how do you think they made such fantastic profits?

duh.....