A low-level staff made a monumental mistake which ultimately cost them their job: releasing a confidential House report prepared in July which indicated more than 30 lawmakers and several aides are under scrutiny in probles of defense lobbying and corporate influence peddling. Nearly half of the members of a House panel controlling Pentagon spending are now facing investigation by Congressional ethics investigator, reported the Washington post.

Two House ethics offies are investigationg whether Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), chairman of the defense appropriations subcommittee, and six other lawmakers, funneled millions in federal funds to clients of a very influential lobbying firm in exchange for campaign contributions. The lobbying group in question - PMA Group - was founded by a formal Capitol Hill aide and is under criminal investigation by the Justice Department.

Members of the ethics committee, along with their staffs, had signed oaths not to disclose details of any past or present investigations. However, this 22-page report was released by a low-level staffer working from home via a file-sharing network. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Cal.) said that the staff member was fired.

Lofgren also commented:

"No inference to any misconduct can be made from the fact that a matter is simply before the committee."

Other representatives named in the inquiry include Peter Visclosky (D-Ind.), James Moran (D-Va.), Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), Marcy Kapfur (D-Ohio), C.W. "Bill" Young (R-Fla.), and Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.). The committee hasn't issued a formal announcement that they are being investigated.