A military PR contractor which has worked with the U.S. government since 2004 is under criminal investigation by the Pentagon inspector general.
USA Today, which saw two of its reporters allegedly targeted in a reputation attack scheme by the contracter, Leonie Industries, reported today that the federal criminal probe was revealed in a letter to Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.).
Johnson in May threatened to pull funding for military PR operations if the Pentagon did not investigate evidence that the reporters were targeted after reporting on Leonie's robust contracts and apparent failure to $4M in taxes on time.
A co-owner of the company admitted in June to establishing websites aimed at the USA Today reporters who reported on his company, but said he did not use Leonie resources. The co-owner, Camille Chidiac, has been banned from handling military contracts but Leonie continues to handle PR work because the ban related to Chidiac as an individual.
The Defense Criminal Investigative Service is handling the criminal probe, which is looking at Leonie's role in the smear websites.
USAT noted the Government Accountability Office is also investigating the military's information operations.