-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- Democrat Fund-Raiser Case Criticized By Pete Yost Associated Press Writer Monday, Feb. 28, 2000; 6:01 p.m. EST WASHINGTON �� Prosecutors brought charges against a low-level Democratic fund-raiser because of her longtime association with Vice President Al Gore, a defense lawyer suggested Monday in federal court. The Justice Department countered that Los Angeles fund-raiser Maria Hsia "used 40 to 50 people" to hide the true sources of more than $100,000 in campaign donations to the 1996 presidential election. "She cannot try to get away with it, when she is the one who orchestrated the entire scheme," prosecutor Eric Yaffe told the jury in closing arguments at the trial, now in its fourth week. Yaffe said Hsia, an immigration consultant, used a series of "conduits" to make political donations because she "wanted to maintain herself as a mover and a shaker in Democratic Party circles" by being seen as a major fund-raiser. She was trying to promote her "business interests," Yaffe said. The focus of closing arguments was a 1996 fund-raising event that Gore attended at a Buddhist temple in California, a politically embarrassing episode for the vice president. "Why is Maria Hsia here?" asked defense attorney Nancy Luque. Prosecutors brought the case because of Hsia's "relationship with the vice president" which "goes back to 1989. ... That is the only thing I can think of," said Luque. She did not elaborate on why prosecutors might have been motivated to bring a criminal case that would inject Gore's name into the proceedings. Gore attended the April 29, 1996, Buddhist temple event in Hacienda Heights, Calif. When controversy later erupted about illegal reimbursements to donors, the vice president said that he hadn't known it was a fund-raising event. On various occasions, Gore has said he thought it was community outreach, finance-related or donor maintenance. The day after Gore went to the temple, Hsia handed Democratic Party fund-raising figure John Huang an envelope containing $100,000, according to Huang's testimony at the trial. The donations were made possible because the temple reimbursed many of the donors. Luque said there is no evidence that Hsia was aware of the reimbursements. Prosecutor John McEnany pointed out that copies of the illegally reimbursed checks turned up in Hsia's office. Hsia's fund raising dates back to the late 1980s when she raised money for Gore, who was trying to replenish his Senate campaign coffers after he unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination. Luque said even if the jury believes that Hsia was behind some of the reimbursements, she did not commit the crime with which she is charged five times � causing illegal statements to be filed with the Federal Election Commission about the true source of campaign donations. FEC forms don't even ask for the true source of donations, so "I guess they don't care," Luque said. � Copyright 2000 The Associated Press ================================================================= Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> *Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day. ================================================================= <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
