Fund-Raiser for Hillary Clinton Gala Probed (organizer a charity fraudster)

LA TIMES ^ | June 18, 2003 | Michael Cieply and James Bates

[Liz]

Aaron Tonken, who is facing a charge of mail fraud in connection with his charity work, organized a campaign event for her in 2000.

A federal inquiry into the activities of celebrity fund-raiser Aaron Tonken is examining his involvement with a $1-million Hollywood political event for Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2000 Senate campaign, according to people familiar with the investigation.

The inquiry raises the stakes in a longstanding controversy that has pitted Bill and Hillary Clinton against some of their most dogged critics who have publicly questioned the source of underwriting for the gala. For Tonken, it also opens the prospect of cooperation with authorities in return for a possible plea deal.

It couldn't be determined whether Clinton or her campaign is a target, and a spokesman for the New York senator said her office had no information on any probe.

Tonken has not testified before a grand jury, said sources close to the case, who requested anonymity.

In addition, allegations by California's attorney general that Tonken has engaged in fraudulent fund-raising activities could later be used to challenge his credibility. Still, sources say, investigators are interested in the event he organized in August 2000, on the eve of the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.

--SNIP--

[Liz]

I'm shocked, Shocked (/end Claude Rains impersonation).

[citizen]

So what's the deal here?

[I went to read it but don't care to register with that paper]

[Liz]

A stroll down Memory Lane.

Excerpt: In an interview in March, Tonken said his charity consulting business began to disintegrate when corporate sponsors — panicked by the backlash against President Clinton's pardon of financier Marc Rich during his final days in office — pulled out of a high-profile charity event co-sponsored by the Clintons in April 2001.

Backlash against the Rich pardon. Those were the good old days, eh FReepers? The Clintons were lambasted from here to eternity. Oh, BTW, did Hitlery mention the pardon in her book? (rhetorical question).

[Liz]

You should read it. Nice, juicy stuff about the Clintons.

[VOYAGER]

A federal inquiry into the activities of celebrity fund-raiser Aaron Tonken is examining his involvement with a $1-million Hollywood political event for Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2000 Senate campaign, according to people familiar with the investigation. The inquiry raises the stakes in a longstanding controversy that has pitted Bill and Hillary Clinton against some of their most dogged critics who have publicly questioned the source of underwriting for the gala.

For Tonken, it also opens the prospect of cooperation with authorities in return for a possible plea deal.

Everything these two Arkansas trash get involved in their filth goes ahead of them or follows them and oft times both!

Will this nation ever be cleansed of these two scalawags?

[Liz]

Talk about trailer trash. If Hitlery is (puke) elected prez, is America ready for this ?

Baby Hughie Rodham and Bill.

[Ann Archy]

Anyone and EVERYONE involved with the Clintons are DIRTY......it's as simple as that. They know nothing BUT crooks, liars and thieves because birds of a feather.....

[eureka!]

Liz, coast to coast corruption for the Rats, eh? Usually, you're posting East Coast Rat shenanigans and apparent crimes. Out west here, we don't need Mr. Bundle, we just throw a gala. ;^)

[arichtaxpayer]

These people don't care who they drag down.

[Liz]

Coast-to-coast corruption is only the tip of the iceberg. These poeple operate on a global scale. Remember the Marc Rich pardon? And the FALN terrorists pardon? And much more.

[Liz]

That's b/c they're "tolerant and compassionate" (puke).

[eureka!]

Good points, recalling China, Indonesia/Riady etc. It really is amazing, and very sad. Combined with the willing presstitutes, that is what keeps them alive. That they are out of power now, methinks that the well has dried up a bit. Here's hoping that '04 diminishes their power even more....

[Just mythoughts]

Reason why bjclinton and the little misses won't get a divorce until statute of limitations runs on all their crimes.

[Grampa Dave]

It will have to be a Federal Grand Jury to do anything.

The Kalifornia AG is a crook just like the Clintoons. He turned his back on all of the money raising scandals involving Davis including the Whoreacle fiasco. In fact he had received a large sum of campaign money from Whoreacle.

The Kalifornia AG sues Microsoft and the power companies who kept the lights on in Kalifornia in spite of Herr Davis. Then he does the Jake Reno trick of turning his back on anything done by the Rats in and out of power.

[Liz]

Perhaps the SEC should be appraised of Whoreacle's CEO's questionable campaign funding activity. Shareholders could be threatened by the CEO of a public company conducting himself in an unethical -- or illegal -- manner.

[DPB101]

Aaron Tonken went from a homeless shelter to being a con man to the stars in a decade. Isn't America great?

Ya think he might have had a little help on his way up?

[Liz]

Did he have help? Hmmmmm. Let me think about that one......ROTFLOL.

[DPB101]

Weren't the late 1990s so much better than the mid 1980s(and they weren't half bad!)?

Giuliani out. Mary Jo White and Janet Reno in! A Wall Street Arb running the Treasury Department!....I'm getting misty eyed just thinking about it.

Well...there is always 2008 to look forward to. We'll just have to go to the mattresses for a while.

[Liz]

Yeah, there's something about Mary Jo Whitewash and Auntie Janet that make my eyes moist up, and my stomach get queasy.........(puke).

[markfiveFF]

Anyone and EVERYONE involved with the Clintons are DIRTY...... Actually, the Clintons lost (quit, not Arkancide) their first four White House counsels (John Dean's old job) because, in truth, many demonratic lawyers won't do known perjury, for professional pride/reputation reson. Their fifth and sixth lawyer, however, stayed ...

Bernie Nussbaum 1993-1994

Lloyd Cutler

Abner J. Mikva - 10/1994 - 11/1995 - resigned

Jack Quinn - 12/1996

Charles Ruff

David E. Kendall

also

The White House said it has 49 lawyers working in the White House legal counsel's office -- a four-fold increase from the 12 professional lawyers who worked for President George H. W. Bush.

Bernie Nussbaum first worked with Hitlery Clinton in 1974, on the House Judiciary Committee's impeachment inquiry against Richard Nixon.

William Kennedy, assistant White House counsel, resigned circle Nov. 18, 1994

Jane Sherburne

Bob Bennett

Mitchell S. Ettinger

Beth Nolan (1999-2001)

Marsha Scott