Posted on 10/25/2005, 2:06:37 AM by markedmannerf
The MP George Galloway angrily rejected fresh allegations last night from a US senate investigation that he lied under oath about Saddam Hussein's multimillion-pound oil-for-food programme.
The inquiry, headed by the Republican Norm Coleman, claimed he had "knowingly made false or misleading statements under oath" when he appeared before a committee hearing in Washington in May.
The MP for Bethnal Green and Bow won widespread acclaim, especially from anti-Iraq war campaigners, when he flew to the US capital to confront Mr Coleman.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
I always thought it was ridiculous for him to take an oath. We all knew he would lie and I'm not sure he's subject to our laws in any way.
GALLOWAY GAVE FALSE AND MISLEADING TESTIMONY UNDER OATH TO SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ABOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT IN OIL-FOR-FOOD TRANSACTIONS, ACCORDING TO COLEMAN FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
Report details Oil-for-Food payments to Galloway’s wife and political organization
October 24th, 2005 - WASHINGTON, DC — - Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), Chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), issued a follow-up report today disclosing evidence that Member of the British Parliament George Galloway gave false and misleading testimony on his involvement with the U.N. Oil-for-Food program at the Subcommittee’s May 17, 2005 hearing entitled, “Oil-for-Influence: How Saddam Used Oil to Influence Politicians Under the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program.”
On May 17, 2005, George Galloway appeared before the Subcommittee and testified under oath regarding evidence obtained by the Subcommittee that he solicited and received financial support from Iraq in association with the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program. In particular, Mr. Galloway denied being an oil trader, soliciting oil allocations, or instructing anyone to do so on his behalf.
“I directed the Subcommittee to continue its investigation into Mr. Galloway because his testimony at the May 17, 2005 hearing so clearly conflicted with the evidence,” Coleman said. “False and misleading testimony before the Subcommittee undermines the integrity of the Subcommittee. The additional evidence gathered by the Subcommittee clearly demonstrates that the testimony Mr. Galloway provided to the Subcommittee was false and misleading.”
Since the May hearing, the Subcommittee has obtained further evidence establishing that the Hussein regime granted oil allocations to Galloway and his political organization, the “Mariam Appeal.” The Subcommittee report reveals that British MP George Galloway made false or misleading statements before the Subcommittee on May 17, 2005. Specifically, evidence gathered by the Subcommittee reveals:
? Galloway personally solicited and was granted eight oil allocations totaling 23 million barrels from the Hussein government from 1999 through 2003;
? Galloway’s wife, Dr. Amineh Abu-Zayyad, received approximately $150,000 in connection with one allocation of oil;
? Galloway’s political campaign, the Mariam Appeal, received at least $446,000 in connection with several allocations granted under the Oil-for-Food Program;
? Illegal “surcharge” payments in excess of $1.6 million were paid to the Hussein regime in connection with the oil allocations granted to Galloway and the Mariam Appeal; and
? Galloway knowingly made false or misleading statements under oath before the Subcommittee at its hearing on May 17, 2005.
“The additional evidence gathered by the Subcommittee links George Galloway to the Iraqi regime’s scheme to manipulate the U.N. Oil-for-Food program,” said Coleman. “Records obtained indicate that Dr. Abu-Zayyad, the wife of George Galloway, received a $150,000 payment and Mariam Appeal, the political campaign led by George Galloway, received at least $446,000.”
The findings revealed in the Subcommittee’s report have been substantiated by personal interviews with high-level members of the Hussein regime, oil traders with personal knowledge of Galloway’s involvement, and extensive bank records that provide a conclusive paper trail and corroborate Galloway’s personal knowledge and involvement in the Oil-for-Food scandal.
Sen. Coleman personally sent Galloway a letter requesting an interview, and offered to fly staff to London in order to conduct the interview. Mr. Galloway declined both offers, and instead, offered to respond to written questions. Galloway denied any involvement whatsoever in any Oil-for-Food transaction in his written responses.
Under the Federal False Statements Statute, it is unlawful for a witness to give false testimony before Congress on a material matter where that witness does so willfully and under oath, and the Federal Obstruction of Congressional Proceedings Statute prohibits a wide variety of obstructive conduct that influences, obstructs, or impedes a Congressional inquiry. “I am reviewing the evidence with Senator Levin to determine the propriety of referring this matter to the Department of Justice,” said Coleman.
“As you know, Mr. Galloway has authored an account of his testimony before the Subcommittee, entitled, Mr. Galloway Goes to Washington: The Brit Who Set Congress Straight about Iraq. As the Subcommittee report shows, Galloway was anything but straight with Congress and the American people.”
Contact(s):
Andrea Wuebker, (651) 645-0323
###
http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=775
Tarik Aziz speaks.
I'm sure the U.S. media will be right on top of this story.
bttt
Will also be fun to see what Chris Hitchens has to say since he debated that putz a few months ago in NY
Of course he lied. His mouth moved.
Well, if this information can help them turn lying from "everybody does it" and "sometimes lying is a good thing" to the worst of all crimes under the sun, they'll pick up on it.
(steely)
And pretty well evicerated him, too. It was a pleasure to hear!
What a pathetic, brainless gasbag Galloway is. Gives ol Chappaquiddick Ted a run for his money.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4373764.stm
Galloway dismisses new oil claims
Can we put Patrick Fitzgerald on Galloway's case, please?
No way, Saddam and Sons must be protected, at all costs.
They've got bigger fish to fry, you know, the evil GWB!
Chris Hitchens must be laughing his ass off right now...(while gettin drunk, of course, but who would blame him???!!!).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.