More from Sharon Weinberger over at Wired regarding former Rep. Curt Weldon's ties to Russia.

We learned earlier this week that Weldon's under investigation in what is "an element of a broader U.S. Justice Department probe into what officials suspect are efforts by Russian-backed firms to gain influence or gather information in Washington."

Now Weinberger, who co-wrote a book about nuclear weapons, found this nugget in her notes. In 2006, Weldon told her that he met with Sergey Chemezov, a former KGB officer and then the head of Rosoboronexport, which handles Russian weapons exports.

"Chemezov offers--it's an amazing offer with Putin's support... there are countries in the Middle East that are approaching Russia to buy replacement weapons and spare parts. Chemezov is here to say, "We want to work with America to either establish either a joint company, or even an American company that would act as a front for weapons these nations want to buy. So American would not think we're going behind their back."

Weldon thought it was a great idea.

The federal corruption probe of former Rep. Curt Weldon's office is grinding on. Turns out one of the Russian businessmen the Pennsylvania Republican was promoting was giving undisclosed payments to his chief of staff's wife.

The chief of staff, Russell Caso, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in December, but the actual source of the cash given to his wife was not identified. Today's Wall Street Journal reports that the money came from a group called the International Exchange Group, run by Vladimir Petrosyan.

The not for profit group paid $19,000 to Caso's wife, mostly for editing work that was never done. The Journal reports that Petrosyan, a prominent Russian with ties to the Kremlin, was a fixture around Weldon's office on Capitol Hill.

Mr. Petrosyan, who was the "general secretary" of the group, "met frequently and sought official action from" then-Rep. Weldon, the Caso plea statement alleges. Mr. Weldon directed Mr. Caso to seek U.S. government backing for projects involving biological and chemical weapons and he "made presentations to various executive branch agencies, including to high-level officials in the Departments of State and Energy and the National Security Council."

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