MURTHA UPDATE: Ex-Pittsburgher in middle of earmark scandal.

Described as bright, blunt and ambitious, Mr. Magliocchetti left a post as a staff member for the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee more than 20 years ago and set up shop as PMA Group, which became the premier lobbyist for defense firms seeking billions in federal dollars. Last year alone, PMA’s clients paid the firm $13.5 million to help them secure hundreds of millions in federal contracts.

“He was a guy who knew how to put the pieces together,” says one congressman, a close friend who spoke only on condition of anonymity, worried at the consequences of being tied publicly to a man now at the center of the newest lobbying scandal. Those pieces fell apart with frightening speed amid a federal investigation that ended Mr. Magliocchetti’s career and turned a harsh light on the long-standing practice of steering federal dollars to pet projects, a practice known as earmarks.

Now, with prosecutors investigating Mr. Magliocchetti’s political giving, as well as about his connections to various members of Congress, the controversy over earmarks has gathered renewed momentum with Mr. Magliocchetti, a Pittsburgh native, as its focus.

“It seems to me in our system, even Magliocchetti is innocent until he’s proven guilty,” said Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown.

Yeah, it’s not like he works for AIG or anything. But who will stand between him and the people with pitchforks? Murtha? I’d say that the “even Magliocchetti” language suggests not so much — despite this: “Mr. Murtha, chairman of the powerful defense appropriations subcommittee, has worked closely with Mr. Magliocchetti and others from PMA.”