Discussion:
An Unexpected Twist: Palin's $150,000 Wardrobe Doesn't Add Up
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m***@use.net
2008-10-25 16:55:01 UTC
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An Unexpected Twist: Palin's $150,000 Wardrobe Doesn't Add Up

Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly at 4:42 PM on October 23,
2008.

It seems like the RNC's receipts aren't matching up with those of the
stores' ... and here I thought the story was odd enough before.

In all sincerity, I had no intention of returning to the subject of
Sarah Palin's $150,000 campaign wardrobe, but there's been one
unexpected twist.

Up until now, the question has been, "Why did the RNC spend so much
money on clothing and accessories?" This afternoon, a report from the
New York Times generated a new question: "Why don't the numbers add
up?"

Some of the fashion experts consulted Wednesday, for instance, about
the $150,000 in purchases that appeared on Federal Election Commission
records were puzzled by where all of that money had gone, given what
they had seen of Ms. Palin's wardrobe.

Consider also the $4,902.45 charge at Atelier New York, a high-end
men's store, presumably for Ms. Palin's husband, Todd, the famous
First dude.

Karlo Steel, an owner there, said he had gone through the store's
receipts for September, twice, and found no sales that matched that
amount, nor any combination of sales that added up to the total.
Because the store carries aggressively directional men's wear, he
caters to a small clientele and knows most of his customers by name,
as well as the history of their purchases.... "We have no recollection
of that sale and no idea what they are talking about," Mr. Steel said.

Similarly, the RNC records show a charge of $98 at a high-end
children's boutique in Minneapolis, but after going through their
receipts, the store owners found no record of the sale.
And here I thought the story was odd enough before.
Curt
2008-10-27 17:15:37 UTC
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Post by m***@use.net
An Unexpected Twist: Palin's $150,000 Wardrobe Doesn't Add Up
Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly at 4:42 PM on October 23,
2008.
It seems like the RNC's receipts aren't matching up with those of the
stores' ... and here I thought the story was odd enough before.
In all sincerity, I had no intention of returning to the subject of
Sarah Palin's $150,000 campaign wardrobe, but there's been one
unexpected twist.
Up until now, the question has been, "Why did the RNC spend so much
money on clothing and accessories?" This afternoon, a report from the
New York Times generated a new question: "Why don't the numbers add
up?"
The chairman of the Oregon Republican Committee embezzled a bunch of
money and fled the state a few months ago. Wonder if something similar
happened here.

Curt
Scratch
2008-10-27 17:28:20 UTC
Permalink
Post by Curt
The chairman of the Oregon Republican Committee embezzled a bunch of
money and fled the state a few months ago. Wonder if something similar
happened here.
Curt
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Affidavit: $90,000 found in congressman's freezer
FBI wraps up search of Jefferson's office in bribery probe

Monday, May 22, 2006; Posted: 10:13 a.m. EDT (14:13 GMT)


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal agents searched the Capitol Hill office of a
Louisiana congressman under investigation on bribery charges Sunday,
while newly released court papers said agents found $90,000 in cash last
year in his Washington home.

In a 95-page affidavit used to obtain a warrant for the office search,
investigators stated that an August 2005 search of Democratic Rep.
William Jefferson's home turned up the cash sum in a freezer.

The money was divided among various frozen food containers, according to
the heavily redacted affidavit. (Watch what Jefferson said about the
'hell' of being investigated -- 4:47)

Agents told a judge the money was part of a $100,000 payment that had
been delivered by an informant in the bribery probe, which already has
led to guilty pleas by a Kentucky businessman and a former Jefferson
aide.

The Justice Department has been investigating Jefferson's relationship to
telecommunications deals in Africa and elsewhere, and the House Ethics
Committee launched an investigation of him last week.

The eight-term congressman, whose district includes New Orleans and some
of its suburbs, has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to remain in office
to battle any criminal charges he may face.

But the affidavit states that investigators have collected evidence
linking Jefferson to at least seven other cases in which he "sought
things of value in return for his performance of official acts."

Robert Trout, the congressman's lawyer, decried the release of the
affidavit. In a statement issued Sunday night, he said it served "no
legitimate investigative purpose."

"This disclosure by the prosecutors is part of a public relations agenda
and an obvious attempt to embarrass Congressman Jefferson," Trout said.
"The affidavit itself is just one side of the story, which has not been
tested in court."

He said Jefferson would respond "at the appropriate time" if charged with
any wrongdoing.

FBI agents searched Jefferson's office in the Rayburn House Office
Building from Saturday evening to early Sunday afternoon, bureau
spokeswoman Debra Weierman said. One government official told CNN the
search marked the first time FBI agents have searched a lawmaker's
Capitol Hill office.

Weierman would not comment on what agents removed from Jefferson's
office. But in the papers released Sunday, investigators stated they were
searching for faxes, notes, telephone records and other forms of
communication, as well as ledgers and computer files related to meetings
and travel.

In an earlier statement, Trout called the search of Jefferson's office
"outrageous" and said it was not necessary.

"There were no exigent circumstances necessitating this action. The
government knew that the documents were being appropriately preserved
while proper procedures were being followed. We are dismayed by this
action -- the documents weren't going anywhere and the prosecutors knew
it," he said.

However, a redacted copy of the search warrant and affidavit stated that
federal investigators were unable to obtain the records relevant to the
investigation inside Jefferson's office and, "left with no other
method," proceeded with the search.

A government official close to the investigation told CNN the search was
executed over the weekend when few people are on Capitol Hill because
they believed that time would "be appropriate."

Agents had previously searched Jefferson's home in New Orleans. The cash
found in his Washington residence was part of a $100,000 payment
delivered by a cooperating witness, according to the affidavit, which
said the delivery was videotaped by the FBI.

The FBI began investigating Jefferson in March 2005 stemming from
accusations made by the witness, a Virginia resident who owns an
investment firm.

He told the FBI that he was "a victim of a fraud and bribery scheme"
involving Jefferson; Vernon Jackson, CEO of the Louisville, Kentucky-
based company iGate; and Brett Pfeffer, the president of the investment
firm owned by the unnamed witness and a former Jefferson aide.

According to the affidavit, Jefferson had asked the witness for a
percentage ownership interest in his Nigerian broadband company in
exchange for the congressman "using his official acts to support the the
Nigerian business venture."

Guilty pleas
Jackson pleaded guilty in federal court earlier this month to bribing the
congressman with more than $400,000 in payments, company stock and a
share of the profits in order to promote iGate's high-tech business
ventures in Africa. (Full story)

Pfeffer, of Herndon, Virginia, pleaded guilty in January to aiding and
abetting bribery of a public official.

Both have agreed to cooperate with authorities as part of their plea
agreements.

The affidavit states Jefferson "attempted to use his position as a United
States Congressman" to promote other iGate business ventures in Nigeria,
Ghana and possibly other African nations.

"In exchange for his official acts supporting the proposed business
ventures," the affidavit said, Jefferson has received a 30 percent equity
stake in the witness' Nigerian company and more than $400,000 in payments
from iGate.

The 30 percent equity, in the form of stocks, was placed in the name of a
Nigerian limited liability corporation held by the congressman's
children, the affidavit said.

The cloud over Jefferson comes as Democratic leaders have been attacking
what they call a "culture of corruption" surrounding the Republican
leadership in Congress.

With midterm elections in November, Democrats are trying to highlight GOP
ties to the influence-peddling investigation surrounding lobbyist Jack
Abramoff, the indictment of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in a
Texas court, and last year's guilty plea of California Rep. Randy "Duke"
Cunningham, now serving an eight-year stretch for taking bribes from
defense contractors.

In a news conference last week, Jefferson said he was innocent and that
he would remain in office while he fights any charges. (Full story)

"I wish to say emphatically that in all of my actions that are here under
scrutiny, that I have never intended to dishonor my office, or you, the
public, and I certainly did not sell my office," Jefferson told
reporters.
--
USE YOUR BRAIN, VOTE MCCAIN!!! USE YOUR BRAIN, VOTE MCCAIN!!!



"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do
nothing." - Edmund Burke
Curt
2008-10-29 19:24:26 UTC
Permalink
On Oct 27, 9:28 am, Scratch
Post by Scratch
Post by Curt
The chairman of the Oregon Republican Committee embezzled a bunch of
money and fled the state a few months ago. Wonder if something similar
happened here.
Curt
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Affidavit: $90,000 found in congressman's freezer
You misunderstand me, Larry. I wasn't looking to get into a tit for
tat argument over which party has more scandals recently (although you
have to admit, yours far and away has the trophy. I mean, you're like,
ten to one over the Dems. Maybe twenty to one).

I was just saying, it's likely that someone skimmed off some money.
Being as the CowardsnWeenies can't come up with $150k worth of
receipts and all.

Curt

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