THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS THOROUGHLY: House Dem IT Suspects Wanted Untraceable Payments — And Sure Enough, Millions Disappeared.

A Pakistani family under criminal investigation by the U.S. Capitol Police for abusing their access to the House of Representatives information technology (IT) system may have engaged in myriad other questionable schemes besides allegedly placing “ghost employees” on the congressional payroll.

Imran Awan, his wife Hina, and brothers Abid and Jamal collectively netted more than $4 million in salary as IT administrators for House Democrats between 2009 and 2017. Yet the absence of signs of wealth displayed among them raise questions such as was the money sent overseas or did something other than paychecks motivate their actions?

Capitol Police revoked the Awans’ access to the congressional IT system in February 2017 after a major data breach was detected. Their access had allowed them to read emails and files of dozens of members, including many serving on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

House Democrats have been nonchalant about the allegations, with some saying it was just a misunderstanding or the Capitol Police framed the Awans due to Islamophobia.

But official documents, court records and multiple interviews suggest the crew may have engaged in tax fraud, extortion, bankruptcy fraud and insurance fraud and the money could have been funneled overseas. Abid has hired high-profile attorney James Bacon who specializes in anti-money laundering litigation.

The Awans share modest homes, drive unremarkable cars and report little in the way of assets on congressional disclosures. The family owns significant amounts of Virginia rental properties, which are heavily financed, with second mortgages sometimes taken out. It’s unclear where the rental income goes because the Awans insist tenants pay in odd ways.

Weird that this is getting so little attention. Okay, not all that weird.

UPDATE: A reader emails: “Has anyone made the connection between the DNC protecting the Pakistani IT staff that might have hacked their email and the sudden claims of Russia hacking? Plus if this was an inside hack wouldn’t that explain Seth Rich, Obama not “acting sooner” on the ‘Russia hack?’ And every other claim the left had made?” Something’s happening here, but what, exactly, isn’t clear.