Major Obama Donors Tied to Fugitive Who Fled to Mexico

The New York Times ^ | Monday, February 6, 2012 | Mike McIntire

[kristinn]

Two American brothers of a Mexican casino magnate who fled drug and fraud charges in the United States and has been seeking a pardon enabling him to return have emerged as major fund-raisers and donors for President Obama’s re-election campaign.

The casino owner, Juan Jose Rojas Cardona, known as Pepe, jumped bail in Iowa in 1994 and disappeared, and has since been linked to violence and corruption in Mexico. A State Department cable in 2009 said he was suspected of orchestrating the assassination of a business rival and making illegal campaign donations to Mexican officials.

When The New York Times asked the Obama campaign early Monday about the Cardonas, officials said they were unaware of the brother in Mexico. Later in the day, the campaign said it was refunding the money raised by the family, which totaled more than $200,000.

SNIP

Although the two brothers live and work in Chicago, they maintain ties to Pepe Cardona in Mexico. Alberto Cardona operates an advertising agency in Mexico that has worked for political candidates backed by his brother, according to public records and Mexican news reports. Public records also show that the domain name for the Web site of a restaurant Pepe Cardona owns is registered to Alberto Cardona.

Obama campaign officials said most of the money raised by the Cardona brothers came from themselves and other relatives, donations of about $200,000. In addition, the campaign was identifying other donations, believed to total less than $100,000, that was bundled from other people.

SNIP

Pepe Cardona is one of the largest players in Mexico’s violent and tumultuous casino trade. SNIP The State Department cable, which was part of the cache made public by WikiLeaks, said that he was suspected of illegally funneling $5 million into Mexican political campaigns in 2006.

[ptsal]

imagine that violence and corruption...

[Chode]

do I really have to say it???

[uncbob]

Why is this in the NYT

[Liberty Valance]

bttt

[italianquaker]

Beat me to it

[Danae]

How is this NOT taking foreign money for a political campaign??? Are these brothers Naturalized Americans?

This reeks!!!

[glock rocks]

In Mexico, bribery is just a part of doing business. Always has been.

In the US... no, wait.

Never mind.

[Danae]

“Are these brothers Naturalized Americans?”

I meant to say DONORS not brothers~!!!

[CitizenM]

Obama and his campaign has so many ties to criminals and corruption that one almost becomes numb to any new stories like this. It is like the expression...”So, what else is new?” when it comes to Obama’s sleazy, crime ridden connections as well as those of his cabinet members and appointees. Obviously, with all the cover-ups and avoidance of the truths like this about the current "#Occupier" in the WH, the tentacles of corruption stretch far and fast throughout the media.

[tutstar]

bump

[digger48]

They gave the money back.

For Democrats, that means the debate is over.

This is the last we’ll hear of it from the Times.

[Rebelbase]

The republicans don’t have anyone with strong enough criminal background to compete with Obama this election.

[Sivad]

“......with all the cover-ups.....”

Yep. When it comes to Obama and his “transparent” ad-
ministration we can only wonder what kind of crimes
and mischief the MSM is sitting on. Will it be dribbled
out if he is re-elected? Will it be held until after
a second term? Will we have to hear about it thru the
tabloids? Or will we be treated to rumors?

[Segovia]

I can see another “Marc Rich” pardon in our future!!

[mcenedo]

He was sentenced to five years in prison, and while free pending an appeal, he was arrested in New Mexico on charges of trying to smuggle marijuana across the border, court records show. He pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in 1994, but disappeared while out on bail, later surfacing in Mexico.

In 1998, federal prosecutors obtained approval from a judge to quash the drug indictment, wiping clean Pepe Cardona’s federal court record.

Surprised to see this in the NYSlime (and it isn't even Friday).

The italics above are the "money quote" for me. I wonder how he got a pardon in 1998? Who the hell was in charge back then???

[woofie]

Pepe might have needed a few guns

[okie01]

Who the hell was in charge back then???

If I'm not mistaken, Cardona was the name of the drug dealer who was also a big Clinton donor and had his picture taken with Bill & Hillary in front of the White House Xmas tree.

[mcenedo]

I’m shocked!!

[the_Watchman]

The next “Drudge Report” could be built if somebody could find a substantial link between these Chicago guys and the folks getting the guns from Fast and Furious. Many of us have wondered if a case could be made that Holder wanted the guns over the border for some other reason than attempting to sandbag the 2nd Amendment.