EXCLUSIVE: Senator's husband cashes in on crisis

Washington Times ^ | April 21, 2009 | By Chuck Neubauer

[COUNTrecount]

Feinstein sought $25 billion for agency that awarded contract to spouse

On the day the new Congress convened this year, Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation to route $25 billion in taxpayer money to a government agency that had just awarded her husband's real estate firm a lucrative contract to sell foreclosed properties at compensation rates higher than the industry norms.

Mrs. Feinstein's intervention on behalf of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was unusual: the California Democrat isn't a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs with jurisdiction over FDIC; and the agency is supposed to operate from money it raises from bank-paid insurance payments - not direct federal dollars.

Documents reviewed by The Washington Times show Mrs. Feinstein first offered Oct. 30 to help the FDIC secure money for its effort to stem the rise of home foreclosures. Her letter was sent just days before the agency determined that CB Richard Ellis Group (CBRE) - the commercial real estate firm that her husband Richard Blum heads as board chairman - had won the competitive bidding for a contract to sell foreclosed properties that FDIC had inherited from failed banks.

About the same time of the contract award, Mr. Blum's private investment firm reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission that it and related affiliates had purchased more than 10 million new shares in CBRE. The shares were purchased for the going price of $3.77; CBRE's stock closed Monday at $5.14.

[doodad]

Throw the book at the ditz. This is why politics is so lucrative.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Now that’s a shocker. Not.

[RexBeach]

Feinstein also lives in a private, gated community with armed guards in S.F.

A real rep. of the people.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

They are dims, nothing to see here...move along.

[Dick Bachert]

RE-ELECT NOBODY!

BUT, HOUSTON, WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM!

What is to be done about the HILL RATS? These are the allegedly “professional” staffers who are so named because after each election, they scurry like rats to a new member – ANY MEMBER (his politics seldom matter) – just to remain close to the power. Most are flaming liberals and, after the “experienced” staffer shows the new guy where the joh is, because they have been up there for decades, far too many of these new members rely on them for how to vote and get along in the thoroughly corrupt system of “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” that has caused the mess in which we now find ourselves.

Looks like we will also need TENURE LIMITS with stiff penalties for breaking the rules!

[magellan]

This is a duplicate thread.

See http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2234149/posts

[Wolfie]

These people aren’t stuipd. They’re American Royalty, and plan to stay that way.

[tatsinfla]

anytime something like this is uncovered that politician should have to immediatly resign from office...this goes directly against the fabric of the oath of office they take. it is amazing that people will continue to vote them back into office and then sit back and complain about what they are doing......

[tatsinfla]

absolutly it is long past due. it amazes me that the president can only serve two terms but these people can make a carreer out of politics. it is high time the states began setting term limits on this ass clowns.

[upchuck]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2234056/posts

[mathurine]

Typical politician— one for the money, two for the show.

[RexBeach]

You said it, brother!

[COUNTrecount]

Thanks. I searched using the actual title and nothing came up.

[samsmom]

Term limits. Term limits. Along with Tea Parties to downsize government, we need to tell these politicians it’s not a lifetime appointment. They’ll have to go back to their jobs and communities after a two-term stint.

[LearsFool]

Surprised? Nah, this is what overlords always do with their serfs. This ain’t no free country, not since the insurrection.

[KansasGirl]

Well, the people never hear of these things. The Democrat propaganda outlets, otherwise known as the MSM, make sure of it.

[HoosierHawk]

It's a "culture of corruption!"

But only when the republicans were in the majority. Now, it's cool.

[FromShadow]

The most amazing thing about this article, is that her party affiliation is even mentioned.

[SunkenCiv]

• CA: Former Feinstein staffer edited Wikipedia entries
  (cut references to Feinstein's net worth)
• Senate aide tweaks boss's Wikipedia bio
• Feinstein: Ports 'ought to be governmentally operated'
• The Democrats' Daddy War Bucks -- Feinstein Family War-Profits:
• Feinstein insists U.S. not bound to protect Taiwan
• Senators Kyl and Feinstein Call for Eliminating Ethanol Import Tariff
• Bloom is off the rose for public garden at Feinstein mansion [California]
• Sen. Feinstein Rips Up Public Garden
• Bloom is off the rose for public garden at Feinstein mansion
• Feinstein focusing on global warming
  (delivered a lengthy speech.. then drives off in gas guzzler)
• Trade deal with Vietnam faces resistance
  (Guess who!)
• New York Times: Democrats Already Backing Off on Ethics Reform
• Feinstein Caught in Conflict of Interest on Military Contracts
• Senator Feinstein's Iraq Conflict
  (voted for appropriations worth billions to her husband's firms)
• Senators introduce bill to restrict use of cluster munitions
  (sponsored by DiChiFi and Leaky Leahy)
• CA: Feinstein's husband takes on starring role
  (Richard Blum now Chairman of Board of Regents)
• Diane Feinstein resigns [from Senate subcommittee]
• Feinstein Resigns
  (Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee.)
• Feinstein quits committee under war-profiteer cloud
• Feinstein Resigns; Senator exits MILCON following Metro expose', vet-care scandal
• Senator Feinstein's Iraq Conflict
• Feinstein .. where is the MSM?
• Feinstein Resigns [from the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee]
• Feinstein challenges criticism against Lam
  (Rush proves Feinstein = hypocrite0
• OUSTING OUR U.S. ATTORNEY
  Concerns about Lam were real
• Bay lawmakers among wealthiest
  Feinstein and Pelosi top the list
• DiFi Busted
• Windfalls of War: Perini Corporation(Feinstein getting rich on war)
• Senator exits MILCON following Metro exposé, vet-care scandal
• Senator Feinstein's Iraq Conflict
• Feinstein Leaves Senate Defense Panel Amid Controversy
• Feinstein's Office Denies Conflict of Interest Charges
• FEINSTEIN RESIGNS POST AMID 'CONFLICT OF INTEREST' QUESTIONS
• Diane Feinstein
  (D-CA)Cardinal Shenanigans
• Culture of Corruption: Mainstream Media Ignore Feinstein's Conflict
• CREW takes down DiFi Corruption Thread
• Bloggers pressure Feinstein on conflicts
• Feinstein Conflict Allegations 'Aren't Going Away,' Watchdogs Say
• Pelosi Malfeasance Glossed over by Media
• Pelosi Malfeasance Glossed over by Media
• Democrat Corruption Thickens with Accusations against Senator Feinstein
• Medicare audits spark protest that nudges Feinstein
  (Lady MILCON & Richard Blum's latest travail)
• Husband's investments entangle Feinstein
  (Latest flap over Medicare payment denials)
• URS Corp. in deal to acquire Washington Group
  (Dianne Feinstein ethics mentioned)
• California Lawmakers Among Congress' Richest
  (And Most Corrupt)
• Transcript: Sens. Lott, Feinstein on 'FOX News Sunday'
  (Fairness Doctrine)
• Feinstein - Get Real, Then you Can be a Part of Talk Readio
• Feinstein Conflict Allegations 'Aren't Going Away,' Watchdogs Say
• Feinstein might push for fairness doctrine
• Dems Eager to Regulate Talk Radio, Pence Plans to Defeat Fairness Doctrine
• Feinstein As Arbiter - California Senator Calls for Government Mandated Viewpoint Regulation
• Comrade Feinstein? - Buying Chinese.
• CA: Feinstein denies helping husband's firms - Senator declined to be interviewed on the subject
• Hospital group wants auditor inspected
  (PRG-Schultz has ties to Sen. Dianne Feinstein's D-Ca hubby)
• Reid, Feinstein, Lieberman Announce Most Sweeping Ethics, Lobbying Reform In Generations
• Feinstein's flip sends Southwick to the floor
  (Feinswine losing it?)
• Auditor under fire reaps big profits
  (Sen. Dianne Feinstein's D-CA hubby Richard Blum)
• Feinstein draws fire over vote for judge Southwick
• Feinstein's Fury
  (one of Project Censored's 25 most underreported stories of 2007)
• Calif. Democrats dump donations from fundraiser facing warrant
• Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu skips hearing; arrest warrant issued
• Rambo's View - Dianne Feinstein's $4 billion earmark for Beverly Hills
• Rambo's View
• Feinstein and Schumer vote for Mukasey
• Sen. Feinstein: Judge Mukasey has my vote
• Schumer's Epiphany [Dems cave again]
• In Politics, Nastiness Doesn't Take a Holiday
  (Democrooks Eat Their Own!)
• Bushed: Security guard busted for taking a secret leak @ Dianne Feinstein's mansion
• Feinstein sends Official Letter to AG Mukasey on dismantling of DOJ Public Corruption Unit
• Amnesty for 3 Million Tied to War Funding
• Why do Congressional Democrats fear free speech?
• Sen. Feinstein staffer unsure if she would support "fairness doctrine" for universities
• Feinstein in line to chair Senate Intel Committee
• Feinstein seeks to penalize inauguration scalpers
• US lawmakers to insist on rescue fund accountability
  (Feinstein, Snowe, Pelosi)
• Leon Panetta is Obama's pick for CIA director
  (NEW: Feinstein might oppose him)
• Feinstein Furious Over Panetta Pick
• Sen. Dianne Feinstein breaks with Democratic colleagues, says Senate should seat Burris
• Feinstein says give Burris the seat
• Feinstein Accepts Inauguration Gifts for Obama, Biden
• Judge Says Citizens Need To Buy Guns To Protect Themselves
• Feinstein: 'I Think As We Dither, Rome Burns' [Defeat Porkulus!!]
• Feinstein on Porkulus
• Feinstein: Not The Time For Gun Control
• Senate Husband's Firm Cashes In On Crisis [This is Criminal!!!]
• Senator's husband cashes in on crisis
  (Feinstein Alert)
• Senator's husband cashes in on crisis:Feinstein sought $25 billion for agency
• EXCLUSIVE: Senator's husband cashes in on crisis
• Sen. Feinstein's Husband Cashes In on Crisis
  (Contractual Kickback )
• Feinstein responds to conflict of interest allegations