Secret bills aided Cunningham -- slip items into classified bills that would benefit him

CNN.com - Inquiry: Secret bills aided Cunningham - Jul 23, 2006: "House looks to outside investigator to help fix vulnerabilities | Sunday, July 23, 2006; Posted: 8:49 p.m. EDT (00:49 GMT)"

WASHINGTON (AP) -- An independent investigation has found that imprisoned former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham took advantage of secrecy and badgered congressional aides to help slip items into classified bills that would benefit him and his associates.
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Cunningham's case has put a stark spotlight on the oversight of classified -- or "black" -- budgets. Unlike legislation dealing with social and economic issues, intelligence bills and parts of defense bills are written in private, in the name of national security.

That means it is up to members of Congress and select aides with security clearances to ensure that legislation is appropriate.

The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Michigan, and the top Democrat, Rep. Jane Harman of California, took the unusual step of hiring Stern to investigate how Cunningham used his seat on the committee to influence legislation for his own enrichment. ...