Clinton Accuser Tonken In Plea Flip-Flop?

Newsmax.com ^

[snowrip]

Wednesday Dec. 3, 2003; 9:34 a.m. EST

Clinton Accuser Tonken in Plea Flip-flop?

Hollywood fundraiser Aaron Tonken reversed course on Monday, changing his plea in a case involving charges that he defrauded several charities tied to some of the biggest names in Hollywood and Democratic Party politics.

In a development largely overlooked by the mainstream press, Fox News Channel's Eric Shawn reported on Monday that Tonken "pled not guilty to fraud charges in Los Angeles this morning."

Only two weeks ago, however, federal prosecutors told the Los Angeles Times that the celebrity moneyman would "plead guilty to two federal criminal counts for defrauding donors and underwriters."

It's not clear how Tonken's turnaround will affect his decision to cooperate. While he was in the process of negotiating his plea, he told lawyers in a related civil lawsuit, "I'm a star witness against President and Mrs. Clinton."

"I'm a star witness in New York in the grand jury regarding the Marc Rich pardon and regarding the fundraising activities that I've done on behalf of the Clintons," the well-connected fundraiser explained.

"It's multi-faceted. Part of it's a criminal investigation dealing with the former president; part of it's a massive investigation with the IRS with me in conjunction with all celebrities that I've gifted."

Reporting on "The Big Show with John Gibson", Shawn said Tonken "apparently" continues to be a cooperating witness in the ongoing probe.

"Sources close to the case tell me Tonken is at the center of a possibly wide-ranging investigation into political and charitable fund-raising," including, said Shawn, "people reportedly tied to the Clinton White House who raised money for Hillary Clinton's Senate campaign in 2000."

Mr. and Mrs. Clinton have repeatedly refused to comment on Tonken's case, along with that of another fundraiser, Peter Paul, who's reportedly talking to prosecutors about an August 2000 event he worked on with Tonken for Mrs. Clinton's campaign.

[WackyKat]

Sounds like he was told what will happen to him if he tells the feds what he knows about the Clintons

[Cobra64]

Yup. Sounds like another candidate for an Arkincide.

[joesnuffy]

how many former presidents have been tried for crimes ..found guilty..and done time?

[expatpat]

I hope Tonken has plenty of life insurance.

[ravingnutter]

Related older threads:

FBI Raids Hillary's Warehouse in Whitewater Deja Vu

The End of Hillary Clinton: UPDATE (Peter Paul still alive?) THREAD

JAIL VISIT LEADS TO CELL-ABRATION (Peter Paul is in Hillary's Clutches in NY Prison)

[AmericanInTokyo]

Looks like we'll need a Gulf of Tonken Resolution.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Is that a rhetorical question?

[snowrip]

Look for a suicide... you know, the usual: shot fifteen times with multiple rifles, found with a peashooter in his left hand, no autopsy because it could only be a suicide. Or an accident while he was cleaning the gun(s).

[wayoverontheright]

I could be wrong but, if he pleads not guilty then there will be an in-depth trial and much more chance of testimony which could be damaging to the Clintons. They will have WANTED him to plead guilty, so that anyone who went after them could be painted as partisan, now there could be some revelation in court which could trigger a justifiable public outcry for further investigation.

[Quilla]

Does Clinton still use Fahmy Malak (you kill 'em, we shill 'em) Coroner Services?

[William Tell]

wayoverontheright said: "I could be wrong but, if he pleads not guilty then there will be an in-depth trial and much more chance of testimony which could be damaging to the Clintons. "

Including, perhaps, testimony from the Klintons. Perhaps Hillary will choose to take the fifth. Perhaps the prosecutor will provide her with limited immunity to compel testimony. Perhaps Hillary will still refuse to testify. Perhaps the judge will jail her for contempt and let her wear an orange suit for 18 months.

Her husband was eventually cornered into having to choose between taking the fifth and perjury. She may get a chance to choose, also.

[mountaineer]

Update: On Jan. 11, 2004, a story appeared in the Wheeling (W.Va.) News-Register about Tonken. It seems he attended prep school there in the early 1980s, and was described by a school official as someone who "worked hard and had big dreams." The story says he pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud, and is to be sentenced on Feb. 23 - facing up to 10 years in prision plus fines and restitution.

Unfortunately, the story no longer appears on the newspaper's website.