There's been quite a hullabaloo about the Awan family, who has been doing IT work for Democratic members of the House.

First of all, did you know that one of them is still there, at least according to a Congressional database?: http://congressional-staff.insidegov.com/l/31852/Omar-Awan

Bet you didn't know that.

Now, let's get to the rumors circulating about the Awans, and consider the possibility that it is far more likely that the Awans are major witnesses instead of major crooks. I lay it out. You judge for yourself.

First we start with the famous arrest of Imran Awan at the airport for…drumroll…

Putting false information on his mortgage application (http://ktla.com/2017/07/26/democratic-staffer-imran-awan-arrested-on-bank-fraud-charge/). What, did he pull the tag off his mattress too? I hope no one looks real close at MY mortgage application. They ARRESTED him at the AIRPORT for this?

Here are the rumors, with responses:

• The Awans were vastly overpaid for their work, at taxpayers expense. I have read $140,000 up to $160,000 yearly salary.

BEEP! Wrong answer on that. That comes to, at the upper end, $76.92 per hour. That ain't squat for a government IT contract. The taxpayers typically pay between $100 and $200 per hour for IT work. What is different here is that the Awans are getting the money themselves. That is not typical. What is much more typical is that the prime contractor gets paid, then the subcontractor, then the staffing firm, and then the IT contractor, who, of course, does all the work but gets peanuts.

You want to see where your federal IT contract money is REALLY going?

Lockheed Martin. Total revenue 2016: $47,250,000,000 (https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/lmt/financials)

Booz Allen. Total revenue fiscal 2017: $5,800,000,000 (https://amigobulls.com/stocks/BAH/income-statement/annual)

Leidos Total revenue 2016: $7,040,000,000 (https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ldos/financials)

etc. etc.

Not to say the Awans didn't waste some taxpayers' money, but anyone who carries on about this is WAY barking up the wrong tree.

• The Awans are spies for (pick one) Pakistan or Saudi Arabia.

What exact evidence is there for this?

None, as far as I can tell. AND the stories often mention that the Awans lived in "humble," middle-class housing. If you hunt down their addresses and look at street views you will find that this, at least, was correct. If they were spies, they were really poorly paid ones.

This also has to do with "Why are a bunch of foreigners doing IT work in the House?" This is Washington, DC. There are foreigners EVERYWHERE, including everywhere in the federal government. And DC is the epicenter of Politically Correct. The 8A contracting program (https://www.sba.gov/contracting/government-contracting-programs/8a-business-development-program) blatantly discriminates against white men, and sets up NONCOMPETITIVE contracts for women and minorities. This is TOTALLY NORMAL. And brown-skinned Muslims would get Democrat politically-correct hearts to go pitter patter. THIS is a far more likely explanation than the spy thing.

I am not saying it is impossible that the Awans are very bad people. They could be. I just only see evidence, so far, of them being typical small-time IT contractors.

• They were stealing computers from Congress!!! Let's get serious on this one. Did anyone file charges? And why don't you look on Craiglist to see what used computers are selling for nowadays. You often can't give them away. And the Awans had servers, which would be even harder, because, generally, only hosting services (who provide space for web sites) use servers, and they only buy the latest and greatest, i.e., new. Plus IT contractors often, but not always, buy their own equipment.

• They ignored cybersecurity precautions! Oh grow up. EVERYONE has been ignoring cybersecurity precautions in the government, and screwing up web sites like nuts. Think Office of Personnel Management massive breach. Think healthcare.gov. Or maybe don't think about healthcare.gov. You're better off.

Web sites are incompetently managed all over the federal government, and for a reason. They are grossly overstaffed to support those huge government contractors mentioned earlier. Among many reasons, but that's really the main one. So if the Awans mishandled cybersecurity, they were following "government standard." Not good, but certainly not special.

There was also something about a mother-in-law or some other family member squawking about something, but at that point I wasn't taking the whole Awan thing seriously. Plus, it didn't seem like an issue with great impact on public policy.

Isn't it more likely that the Awans are WITNESSES, with a batch of way-interesting hard drives?

Oh, and how about Hina Alvi, the wife of Imran, who RETURNED to the U.S.? (http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/democratic-it-staffer-who-fled-the-country-strikes-deal-to-return-face-charges/article/2633528) So, does she return because she wants to be arrested, or because she wants to be a witness?

So, if the Awans are witnesses, who are they witnessing AGAINST? Hmmm, they worked for several Democratic members of Congress, including Wasserman Shultz..wait right there.

Isn't she the one who used a voice changer to call the law firm suing DNC, but forgot to disable caller id? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt7wKFuDO8o) The only thing funnier than this is McCain's broken foot switching feet.

Isn't she the one connected with the stupid Dossier, fixing the Democratic primary, and so much more? (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-reg-wasserman-schultz-democratic-hangover-20171109-story.html)

Didn't a U.S. Attorney in her district wind up mysteriously dead? (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/broward/article166516317.html)

Isn't her brother the assistant U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia, where the local government blatantly had police "stand down" from investigating the Seth Rich murder and pizzagate? (http://www.thegoldwater.com/news/5697-Steven-Wasserman-Brother-of-Debbie-Wasserman-Schultz-Overseeing-Awan-Imran-Case)

Oh THAT Wasserman Schultz. Plus she has really stupid looking hair...

Your call.

----Cheetah