Lavish Clinton gala costs detailed

The Times-Picayune ^ | May 20, 2005 | Martha Carr

[neverdem]

N.O. politico testifies expense was no secret

LOS ANGELES -- New Orleans political operative Ray Reggie took the stand Thursday in the trial of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton's former finance director to describe how expenses such as lavish party favors -- director's chairs for every guest -- and efforts to round up private jets for celebrity performers helped drive the costs of a Hollywood gala into the stratosphere.

And Clinton's finance director, David Rosen, knew it, Reggie testified on the sixth day of Rosen's trial.

Rosen, 40, is charged with making false statements to the Federal Election Commission about the cost of the August 2000 event, held two days before the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.

Prosecutors called Reggie to the stand to buttress their argument that Rosen deliberately caused false reports to be filed with federal officials, saying that in-kind donations for the event came to $400,000, though Rosen knew that the real costs exceeded $1.1 million.

In that way, they claim, Rosen sought to maximize the amount of "hard money" from the gala that could be used for direct campaign expenses as Clinton mounted her successful campaign to become a senator in New York.

While Reggie was not a primary organizer of the gala, he was listed on the host committee and said he flew to Los Angeles a week early to help with last-minute arrangements.

Spiraling expenses

Reggie testified that Rosen told him several times that week that the costs of the fund-raiser, on a Brentwood estate, had gotten out of control. Reggie said Rosen and organizer Aaron Tonken also told him that just the production of the concert portion of the event -- featuring Cher, Sugar Ray and Patti LaBelle -- was approaching $500,000.

[neverdem]

The New Orleans perspective on Clinton crapola

[b4its2late]

Hope the jailbirds all start singing...... it ain't Arkansas and they ain't Web Hubbell or Susan McDougal.

[Pessimist]

"But in a surprise move Tuesday, the government vowed not to introduce the tape and asked that the judge ban the defense from using it as well, claiming it was hearsay.

A transcript of the tape obtained by The Times-Picayune shows that while some parts could have helped bolster the government's case, others contained potentially embarrassing details about the fast-and-loose practices of top Democratic fund raisers and party officials. The judge ultimately agreed to exclude its contents. "

Huh!?

So the government itself decided not to introduce the tape, the "smoking gun" into evidence because it might embarass some high ranking Dems!???????

What's up w/ that?

[tet68]

No point in clicking your heels Hillery! the
ruby slippers are on Laura's feet now!

[b4its2late]

embarrassing details about the fast-and-loose practices of top Democratic fund raisers and party officials.

Future indictments?

[aposiopetic]

If you have evidence that could just as easily be excluded, it can be better to proceed with other evidence that is less iffy than to risk having a good conviction overturned solely on the basis of some "bad" evidence having been let in.

It does happen.

[eureka!]

Nothing nefarious. Here's the reason the prosecutor did not want to introduce the tape: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1406202/posts

[mvpel]

And it's supposedly the Democrats that are the "Party of the Little Guy" - I suppose that must be when the "little guy" is pouring their champagne and cleaning up their vomit for minimum wage in the marble-tiled restroom at a million-dollar party...

[doug from upland]

I spoke with Peter Paul a few hours ago. It looks like Rosen is in deep do-do. There is more testimony needed, however, and we'd like to hear from Gary Smith. Rosen knew the cost of the concert alone was at least 800K. Hillary directly negotiated with Gary Smith. Smith needs to testify. Can someone get me the phone number oif the federal attorney's office in L.A.? I want to leave a message to the prosecutor that he must call Smith to testify. If he doesn't, he will be lit up on the internet, talk radio, and documentary.

[neverdem]

FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.

[doug from upland]

It is all going to come out in the civil trial where Hillary will be forced to testify under oath. That will be so much fun.

...DFU in Burlington, WA

[bert]

The gala sounds like Hillary care or the Lite version known as Tenn Care that actually went in to effect in Tennessee and is now bankrupting the state.

A Rat budget is for suckers. The money is made by going over budget and exploitiung the suckers.

[b4its2late]

Traveling around huh? Good for you. Stay safe.

[doug from upland]

I have to get away sometimes. :) I'm using a computer at the library because I have been FReep deprived.

[Nick Danger]

I want to leave a message to the prosecutor that he must call Smith to testify. If he doesn't, he will be lit up on the internet, talk radio, and documentary.

No good lawyer is going to put anyone on the stand unless he knows in advance what the guy is going to say. The DOJ already knows what Gary Smith has to say, and they don't want him on the stand. They also don't want the tape in evidence. Yet no one thinks they are failing to prove that Rosen knew... which is the object of this trial.

In particular, the object of this trial is not to pollute every possible jury in the United States that might be called in some subsequent trial of somebody else, just to throw mud at Hillary Clinton right now, in order to amuse a bunch of Freepers who (a) don't understand that this isn't the trial of Hillary Clinton, and (b) would rather have a bad headline now than Hillary Clinton's head on a stick later.

Let the lawyers do their jobs. The last thing they need is a news story about Freepers lighting up the DOJ switchboard demanding that Gary Smith be called, and then have some reason come up why they actually have to call Gary Smith.

[bruin66]

It is all going to come out in the civil trial where Hillary will be forced to testify under oath. That will be so much fun.

Don't hold your breath. Her "testimony" will be nothing but "I don't recall".

[doug from upland]

Let's see if Gary Smith doesn't recall. Let's see if Melissa Rosen tells David not to go to jail for Hillary.

[cyncooper]

The New Orleans perspective on Clinton crapola

When Ray Reggie was revealed to be the secret witness I had read about a couple months ago and I read the Times-Picayune article on the matter, I immediately bookmarked their site.

They are doing an excellent job of reporting this story.

[cyncooper]

Relax. They asked Reggie about the conversations and he testified as to what was said.

It was established he wore a wire, they just didn't play the tapes.

[Slyfox]

just the production of the concert portion of the event -- featuring Cher, Sugar Ray and Patti LaBelle -- was approaching $500,000.

$500,000 sure would have feed a lot of hungry children.