Posted on 03/31/2008 10:06:06 AM PDT by Ebenezer
(English-language translation)
At least $2 million is what the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) needs to defray the legal-defense costs for Governor [and PPD Chairman] Aníbal Acevedo Vilá and other party officials who are facing federal charges.
PPD Executive Director Aníbal José Torres said that, at this moment, the Governor's attorney Thomas Green's fees total over $400,000.
This amount is the approximate sum of the work done when the federal grand jury was investigating the alleged irregularities committed during Acevedo's 2004 gubernatorial campaign.
Torres indicated that, with the charges pressed last Thursday, the legal defense Green (a former district attorney specializing in corruption cases) is providing may cost the party over $2 million.
For this reason, the PPD's bank account with Banco Popular (012-223514) is being used for Acevedo's followers to donate money to be used exclusively for the defense of the accused, who are directly linked to the party.
"We want to ask now how much the Popular Party, the party's members, and Puerto Ricans who want to cooperate with the people implicated in this process are going to contribute. We cannot lose the perspective that the government of the United States has spent millions of dollars in this entire process," Torres said.
He insisted that this account has nothing to do with this election year's political campaign. PPD Electoral Commissioner Gerardo Cruz pointed out that this move is completely legal.
"This is not about trying to collect money to take care of campaign expenses, so the provisions of the Electoral Law do not apply," Cruz said.
The custodian of the bank account is José Hernández Arvelo, former Administrator of the Municipality of Carolina and the Governor's Mansion. He is presently an employee with the Department of Labor.
ping
Isn’t this going to be a stop for Hillary? Sounds like she’ll fit right in with the big boys.
This is certainly not a good time for either of the Democratic candidates to go to the island.
2008, the year of the great Democrat Implosion.
Puerto Rico Ping! Please Freepmail me if you want on or off the list.
Less than my usual fee, but I’m willing to work,just this one time, at a discount, and I accept the representation!
That’s correct. I am shocked, SHOCKED with all the corruption going on in the PPD! ;^D
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