We've known for some time that Shirlington Limousine, the DC outfit that reportedly procured and ferried congressmen and prostitutes to Cunningham fraudster Brent Wilkes 'poker parties', also got a $21 million contract to provide DC-area shuttle service and limo drivers for the Department of Homeland Security -- despite the fact that Shirlington and its owner had a long history of felony convictions, bankruptcies, repossessed vehicles and revoked licenses. (See on-going coverage here.)

From today's DHS oversight hearings, we learned, though not surprisingly, that no other than Duke Cunningham himself lobbied with DHS to get Shirlington the contract. In fact, according to an affidavit submitted to the Committee by Shirlington owner Christopher Baker, Duke wrote a letter to DHS in support of Shirlington's bid.

But according to DHS, that letter from Cunningham has disappeared.