By RANDY GRIFFITH
A visibly angry Rep. John Murtha cut his Showcase for Commerce press conference short Friday morning after a reporter’s question about Kuchera Defense Systems of Windber, which is under investigation by the federal government.
Kuchera offices were raided in January, and the company was suspended from receiving new Navy contracts last month. The Kuchera family and related companies are major campaign contributors for Murtha.
“What’s that got to do with me?” Murtha shot back to a reporter’s question about the investigation.
“What do you think? Do you think I oversee these companies? That’s the Defense Department’s job. That’s not my job. You guys write these stories. You don’t have a clue what this is all about.”
Murtha would not answer a question about whether he would distance himself from Kuchera. The congressman cut the session off when asked if he had hired a lawyer.
“What kind of question is that?” Murtha fumed, leaving the Pasquerilla Conference Center, 301 Napoleon St.
Later, Murtha spokesman Matthew Mazonkey released this statement:
“Mr. Murtha is passionate about jobs and economic development, and that’s obvious whether he’s talking to constituents or to those who lack understanding of local issues.”
The exchange highlighted increased national attention at Showcase.
Leaders from Greater Johns-town Chamber of Commerce and Johnstown Area Regional Industries added media restrictions to control the situation.
Video cameras on the main show floor at Cambria County War Memorial Arena were limited to one hour Thursday evening and Friday morning.
Press credentials were printed on yellow paper for easy identification.
A photographer from the Washington Post was escorted from the grounds and had her credentials revoked after she came into Thursday night’s private reception, said public relations manager Shawn Piatek of 1sTeam Advertising.
The crackdown did not sit well with all exhibitors. One local merchant complained that a business show is, by definition, a publicity event.
“They start off by saying, ‘We have nothing to hide,’ ” he said. “Then why do they have all these extra restrictions?”
