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Fundraiser Aaron Tonken Writing Hillary Tell-All
NewsMax ^ | 3/11/04 | Limbacher

Posted on 03/11/2004 3:38:18 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection

Convicted Hollywood fundraiser Aaron Tonken, who helped organize an August 2000 star-studded tribute to Bill Clinton's presidency that doubled as a fundraiser for Hillary's Senate campaign, is writing an October-surprise tell-all book that could cause trouble for the entire Democratic Party.

"He has a book coming out in October in which he's promising to reveal all sorts of things," Fox News reporter Eric Shawn told WABC Radio's Monica Crowley Wednesday night. "I think we're in the beginning of what could turn out to be a major brewing story dealing with campaign financing in Mrs. Clinton's campaign."

That may be an understatement, if what the New York Post's Cindy Adams says about Tonken's book turns out to be true.

After getting a peek at his manuscript, Adams reports that in Chapter 13 alone there's enough material to keep a battery of Clinton damage controllers working overtime.

During seven White House stays in the last three months of the Clintons' term, Tonken says he became so cozy with the-then first couple that he and Hillary once sat in their pajamas together eating popcorn and watching TV in her bedroom.

He also says, according to Adams, that he smoked pot with Bill's brother Roger.

When the fun and games were over, the Hollywood moneyman says handed out checks to "certain pols" which he said were "illegal." And he personally witnessed a "brown bag" stuffed with cash going "someplace it shouldn't."

Tonken claims the illegal campaign contributions he personally doled out totaled over $100,000.

And from the sound of the Hollywood fundraiser's statements under oath in legal proceedings against him last year, he isn't talking through his hat.

"I'm a star witness against President and Mrs. Clinton," he told attorneys in an unrelated civil case. "I'm a star witness in New York in the grand jury regarding the Marc Rich pardon and regarding the fundraising activities that I've done on behalf of the Clintons."

Tonken's story could impact the entire Democratic Party, since Harold Ickes - who masterminded Hillary's 2000 Senate race - is now busily raising tens of millions of dollars for the Democratic Party's presidential "Media Fund."

In December Tonken pled guilty to federal charges that he diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars from donors and underwriters of Hollywood events he organized.



TOPICS: Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aarontonken; hillary
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
October is too late for this to do any good. It needs to come out at the end of August!
41 posted on 03/11/2004 4:49:31 PM PST by afraidfortherepublic (Re-elect Dubya)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Wait, there's another interpretation. This could be like clinton "turning purple" during his impeachment interrogation and then it turned out it didn't happen.

Maybe they leak that there's going to be a lot of "bad stuff" in the book, and then when it comes out the "bad stuff" is that she forgot to brush between meals and that she could never say "no" to a worthy cause. This guy is a kneepad wearer - what's his motivation for ratting on his crime family boss?

My guess is that this isn't for real. If the real dirt were to ever come out, it would be a deep throat deal, with meetings in secret locations to trusted journalists etc.

Somehow, I ain't buying this story (much as I wish that it were true).
42 posted on 03/11/2004 4:53:18 PM PST by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
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To: TheRedSoxWinThePennant
Thanks for the map

...the Little Rock Mafia won't need it, they been there...already.

43 posted on 03/11/2004 4:53:45 PM PST by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Tonken's story could impact the entire Democratic Party, since Harold Ickes - who masterminded Hillary's 2000 Senate race - is now busily raising tens of millions of dollars for the Democratic Party's presidential "Media Fund."

Like who and where Ickes is raising money from????

44 posted on 03/11/2004 4:54:43 PM PST by Mo1 (Do you want a president who injects poison into his skull for vanity?)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Tonken's story could impact the entire Democratic Party, since Harold Ickes - who masterminded Hillary's 2000 Senate race - is now busily raising tens of millions of dollars for the Democratic Party's presidential "Media Fund."

Interesting. I was on a thread the other day as to whether the beast is running or not and we decided a good thing would be to watch Ickes - as he moves so moves hitlery. If Ickes is raising big bucks, it's on behalf of hitlery. So then the question is why? Is she planning on running or is she doing this just for "the party".
45 posted on 03/11/2004 4:55:52 PM PST by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
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To: My2Cents
Don't forget Peter paul who is in custody, and spilling the beans.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/2020/2020_010713_peterpaul.html
46 posted on 03/11/2004 4:56:09 PM PST by woodyinscc
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To: My2Cents
Don't forget Peter Paul who is in custody, and spilling the beans.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/2020/2020_010713_peterpaul.html
47 posted on 03/11/2004 4:56:40 PM PST by woodyinscc
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To: 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten; robomurph
Lookee here - Ickes is up to his usual tricks - just as we discussed the other day!
48 posted on 03/11/2004 4:57:24 PM PST by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
He's dead, Jim...
49 posted on 03/11/2004 5:20:23 PM PST by TheSpottedOwl (Until Kofi Annan rides the Jerusalem RTD....nothing will change.)
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To: Peach
Let's hope he's stashed a copy in a safety deposit box somewhere.
50 posted on 03/11/2004 5:25:38 PM PST by hershey
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets
Too bad about Aaron, he had so much to live for.

My thoughts exactly.

51 posted on 03/11/2004 6:05:03 PM PST by barker (Normal people scare me.)
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To: BOBTHENAILER; Grampa Dave; SierraWasp; PhilDragoo; onyx; Howlin; Fracas; Miss Marple
Here's more dirt on Tonken, circa Dec 2003, re his dealings with all those "tolerant and compassionate Hollywood "stars."
___________________________________________

Guilty Plea in Hollywood Fund-Raising Scams
FOX News: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,105381,00.html

LOS ANGELES - California's attorney general called for a clean-up of
Hollywood after a top fund-raiser pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal mail-
and wire-fraud charges relating to the funneling of more than $1 million
in donations to celebrities and phony charities.

Aaron Tonken held glitzy Hollywood galas and raised money for Sen.
Hillary Clinton's 2000 Senate race, among other political and
charitable activities.

Tonken was scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 23. He faces prison, fines and
restitution to donors who gave money for tributes and fund-raisers that
never took place.

California Attorney General Bill Lockyer sued Tonken in March for
allegedly defrauding several charities of $1.5 million, including the
Betty Ford Center and City of Hope.

According to the federal indictment, Tonken solicited donations for phony
events, then diverted the money to bank accounts with names falsely
suggesting they were charitable organizations.

Tonken was also questioned by federal officials probing former President
Clinton's pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich (search).

Rich's wife Denise Rich and the former president have denied any
connection between campaign donations and Rich's pardon. The Federal
Elections
Commission cleared Rich of charges that her contributions to Sen.
Clinton's 2000 campaign were in exchange for the pardon.

Federal prosecutors were also investigating Tonken's production of a
Hollywood tribute to then-President Clinton in August 2000 that served as
a Senate campaign fund-raiser for his wife. Tonken had stayed at the Clinton
White House and calls Sen. Clinton a good friend.

Lockyer, the California attorney general, in a Los Angeles Times interview
published Tuesday called for laws that would regulate celebrity appearance
fees and require disclosure of appearance payments.

Tonken's lawyer agreed with Lockyer to an extent.

"I think [Tonken] is emblematic or symbolic of a system of fund-raising,
both charitable and political, that's broken," attorney Alan Rubin said.
"I mean, there are things obviously going [on]. The fund-raising system is
broken. The political fund-raising system is broken."

Sources said Tonken was cooperating with authorities.

Investigators could expose many well known celebrities with embarrassing
revelations and the possibility some had broken laws.

Financial records obtained by the Times showed that some stars may have
received hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, watches, free
trips and cash for appearances at charity events.

One promoter told Fox News that the stars' gifts came out of money that
should have been going to charity.

Among those who allegedly benefited was "Friends" star David Schwimmer,
who supposedly got two Rolex watches worth more than $26,000 for
appearing at a cancer-charity event. His spokesman was reportedly not
commenting.

Camryn Manheim of television's "The Practice" reportedly was rewarded with a
$24,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and an around-the-world trip for her
brother for serving as mistress of ceremonies for another fund-raiser. A
friend of Manheim's told the Los Angeles Times that the actress thought the
sponsors were giving her gifts for her appearance.

Suzanne Somers and her husband reportedly received a business-class trip to
London worth $20,000 after appearing at a cancer benefit.

The documents also showed that comedian Bill Cosby (search) agreed to be
honored by a charity earlier this year for a $75,000 fee plus $10,000 in
expenses. The event never happened and he was not paid.

Cosby's lawyer told Fox News that the comedian always asks for an
"appearance fee" before attending a charity event, and then returns the
money to the charity. His lawyers refused to turn over the names of
charities Cosby had refunded.

Singer and actress Cher (search) allegedly will only fly to some events on
a private jet. Tonken reportedly agreed to foot her roughly $60,000 airplane
fee and also allegedly sent her and a friend to Europe. Her lawyers had not
commented on the allegation.

Rod Stewart's manager received from Tonken $70,000 in travel expenses,
including an upgrade on a $30,000 cruise, after the manager threatened to
pull Stewart from a benefit at the singer's estate, the papers indicated.
Stewart's manager would not comment.

Prosecutors would not name any celebrities involved, but stated that the
investigation was ongoing.

Fox News' Eric Shawn and Kendall Hagan contributed to this report.
52 posted on 03/11/2004 7:32:42 PM PST by Liz
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To: Donna Lee Nardo
Those must have been Hillary's clothes she got from that vietnam trip, not real pajamas.
53 posted on 03/11/2004 8:40:37 PM PST by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig ( I went to the gun show today and saw an Sharpton for President sticker on a truck. Seriously dude.)
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To: Liz
Great find. This is gonna be fun watching the reaction to the book.
54 posted on 03/12/2004 6:07:58 AM PST by BOBTHENAILER (One by one, in small groups or in whole armies, we don't care how we do, but we're gonna getcha)
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To: BOBTHENAILER
I doubt it Tonken will "tell all" that he knows. Just enough to get people to buy the book. After all he is an admitted conniver.
55 posted on 03/12/2004 6:33:53 AM PST by Liz
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
...."he and Hillary once sat in their pajamas together eating popcorn and watching TV in her bedroom".

... That's interesting! Even Willie was smart enough to not sleep with her!!!

56 posted on 03/12/2004 6:44:47 AM PST by aShepard
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To: DallasMike
A variation on "suicide by cop"? ;-)
57 posted on 03/12/2004 7:17:40 AM PST by StriperSniper (Manuel Miranda - Whistleblower)
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To: Peach
I'd rather see the court case w/ him and PETER PAUL move forward!
58 posted on 03/12/2004 7:18:55 AM PST by OXENinFLA (KERRY KNEW HIS MIC WAS ON!!!!!!)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
"someplace it shouldn't."

I hate to admit to having a sick mind, but this phrase and a mental image of "ol' crusty" just turned my stomach.

59 posted on 03/12/2004 7:22:31 AM PST by katana
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To: katana
bumping
60 posted on 04/18/2004 8:56:57 PM PDT by MamaLucci (Libs, want answers on 911? Ask Clinton why he met with Monica more than with his CIA director.)
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