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A federal jury today found former Democratic fund-raiser Maria Hsia guilty of arranging more than $100,000 in illegal contributions during the 1996 presidential campaign.
Prosecutors alleged that Hsia, a Los Angeles immigration consultant, tapped a Buddhist temple and some of her well-to-do business clients for money to reimburse straw donors or "conduits" who were listed as the contributors on federal election reports.
Hsia was charged with five felony counts of causing false statements to be filed with the Federal Election Commission regarding fund raising at the Buddhist temple in Hacienda Heights, Calif., the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington and the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
Prosecutors presented evidence that a total of $109,000 in reimbursed donations went to Clinton-Gore '96, the Democratic Party and the campaign of Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.
Hsia, who began raising money for Vice President Al Gore more than a decade ago, showed no emotion as the U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman read the verdict.
Testimony in the three-week trial revolved around an April 29, 1996, fund-raiser that Gore attended at the Buddhist temple. Prosecutors said Hsia helped arrange $65,000 in illegal reimbursements to donors, using temple funds.
When controversy erupted after the event about illegal reimbursements to some of the contributors, the vice president said he hadn't known he was attending a fund-raiser, that he thought it was community outreach.
After documents turned up referring to the event in advance as a fund-raiser, Gore modified his characterization, saying he had thought it was a finance-related event.
At the trial, former Democratic Party fund-raiser John Huang, the central figure in the campaign fund-raising scandal, testified that Hsia handed him an envelope containing $100,000 the day after Gore attended the temple event. Most of the donations in the envelope were reimbursed by the temple.
Hsia's lawyers pointed out there was no evidence that Hsia was aware of the reimbursements from the Gore fund-raiser, but prosecutors introduced canceled checks suggesting that on three instances from 1993 to 1996 Hsia used temple funds to reimburse her own political donations. Hsia did not testify at the trial, but her lawyers said the money was for public relations work Hsia had done for the temple.
good thing there was no controlling authority to hurt big Al. I wonder if this will make the news tonight
Hey, look at the picture. Al just went there to get laid!
So this is where we'll put the new White House, eh?
That Envelope in Maria Hsia's hand probably contains over $50,000 China Campaign Bucks...
Al just went there to get laid!
Cute, but that would be lei-ed.:-)
I am surprised that the government put on a case strong enough to win. I expected a whitewash.
Jury's are not always stupid, and I am sure with Hillary in New York, Slick Willy hunting for a legacy, Gore basking in his 20 Delegate lead over Bradley, they forgot to buy off the Jury...
It would seem to me that now they should prosecute Gore. Of course I know I'm dreaming, but it seems to me that if the people giving the money are guilty, then the people receiving it are just as guilty. Oh--I forgot--Gore didn't know he was going there to get money!
All the more reason to believe Gore never smoked all of the marijuani, holds solid belief in abortion, puts us number one with education pushing public schools although sends his to public.
We simply do not need more of the past "on our side".
....but it seems to me that if the people giving the money are guilty, then the people receiving it are just as guilty.
Not always. A few years ago when Edwin Edwards, Governor of Louisiana at the time, was indicted for receiving a bribe, he said, "You have the wrong person on trial. It is illegal for them to give me money but it is not illegal for me to take it." Talk about your loopholes.....!!!
Prosecutors presented evidence that a total of $109,000 in reimbursed donations went to Clinton-Gore '96, the Democratic Party and the campaign of Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.
yiiiiikkkkkkkess
???
_
When controversy erupted after the event about illegal reimbursements to some of the contributors, the vice president said he hadn't known he was attending a fund-raiser, that he thought it was community outreach.
Wake Up America. Gore is worse than Klinton. God help us all if he is elected.
Gore thinks everything is a community outreach. When Occidental adopted his father, that was community outreach. The commonality to all of these outreaches is his hand, palm up, on the end of the reach.
First he said he didnt know where he was. Then he came up with community outreach. This guy is as dumb as a box of rocks. Makes not a bit of difference to the Dems. They are as stupid as he is.
First he said he didnt know where he was.
Now he may have swerved into the truth there as that seems to be a constant.:-)
I have decided being a Democrat is genetic, not an aquired taste. You must from birth be immune to the truth and education.
"Edwin Edwards"
Edwards also said after beating the Feds for the 2nd time,"The only way the people of Louisiana will ever convict me is if they catch me in bed with a DEAD woman or a LIVE boy."
Well I don't know what he got caught with but this time his luck ran out. He was just convicted in Federal Court and is on trial in another one. Looks like "fast Eddie" slowed down as he got older and got nailed. I doubt Edwards will ever see the outside again unless he gets a pardon.
Don't under estimate Fast Eddie. He will appeal til the cows come home. He is 74 and the penalty is likely to be light. He said, "They have accused me and convicted me of extorting my friends.", implying how silly that would be. In reality, he was giving his friends an opportunity to cash in on his mob and political connections.
It is amazing how far charm will get you. Fast Eddie and Slick Willie are prime examples.
Isnt it strange that the dyed in the wool dems will support Klinton / Gore no matter how outrageous corrupt and immoral they are..?
Klinton is an arrogant dangerous man.After 8 years with Klinton, Gore was imprinted. Gore will be worse.
bttt
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.
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