Contracting giant Blackwater has confirmed the existence of multiple federal investigations into its work in shipping weapons to Iraq, reports Congress Daily.
The North Carolina company is facing separate investigations by a grand jury in the state, and by the State Department.
But in a statement, it took issue with some details from news reports last week. “The investigations … do not allege that the company failed to obtain licenses or failed to ensure the government was aware of its actions,” it said.
Rather, it said, “[t]he investigations concern Blackwater’s not properly annotating the licenses, not timely submitting required reports, and not retaining required records.”
Still, it essentially admitted the most eyebrow-raising charge — that it had shipped weapons inside sacks of dog food — saying that this was done to prevent theft.
Separately, federal prosecutors have drafted an indictment against Blackwater guards in connection with the deadly shooting of 17 Baghdad civilians last year, though no decisions on charges have been made.