Report: Nearly 50 Dems Waived Background Checks for IT Aides Accused of Hacking

Nearly 50 House Democrats waived background checks for Pakistani IT aides accused of hacking Congressional data, according to an inspector general report.

The report comes nearly a year after Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, D-Fla., continued to employ a former House IT Aide who was arrested on bank fraud charges. Imran Awan was tossed off the House network nearly five months before Wasserman-Schultz fired him for reportedly staling data and emails from Congress.

House security policy requires mandatory background checks but includes a technical loophole that allows other members to vouch for them, according to investigative reporter Luke Rosiak.

"It was as casual as that before you turn over the passwords that give these guys access to all the emails to members of Congress and every file on their hard drives and all their staffer's hard drives," Rosiak said to Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo on "Mornings with Maria."

"As a result they gave these guys access to everything," he said, "And the [House Inspector General] determined that they were funneling data to the House network."

Awan served as a tech aide in Congress for 13 years, and managed to help get jobs for brothers Abid and Jamal, wife Hina Alvi and friend Rao Abbas. All five were making close to $165,000 a year. A background check on him would have found several red flags, including a $1.1 million bankruptcy, six lawsuits against him or one of his companies and at least three misdemeanors.

• Accountants Urge IRS for Clarity on Business Meals Deduction
• Census Citizenship Giveaways Are Just Another Liberal Ploy