Posted on 05/11/2005 5:58:55 PM PDT by CHARLITE
Potential jurors in the trial of Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign finance chief were asked yesterday about their politics and their opinions about New York's junior senator. Clinton is not on trial - or accused of knowing of any misdeeds - but she was all over the 16-page questionnaire given to the jury pool. The potential jurors were asked if they had any strong feelings about her and whether they had heard of any wrongdoing in her 2000 campaign for Senate.
The Los Angeles court also wanted to know what the jurors' politics were, if they had ever worked for a campaign or donated money to one, what they thought of the Republican and Democratic parties, and where they got their news.
The trial of David Rosen on charges of filing a false report to the Federal Election Commission may last three weeks, potential jurors were told.
The colorful case has reanimated many longtime Clinton critics who hope it will produce roadblocks to the senator's political plans for reelection in 2006 - or a presidential bid in 2008.
Opening statements were supposed to begin today, but lawyers hadn't even started the process of individually questioning jurors yesterday.
Rosen is accused of underreporting the cost of a lavish Hollywood fund-raiser for Clinton during the 2000 Democratic National Convention. Stars included Cher, Melissa Etheridge, Patti LaBelle, Diana Ross and Michael Bolton.
Lowballing the reported expenses left more money available to be funneled into Clinton's campaign, prosecutors said.
The event's producer, Peter Paul, who turned on the Clintons after a business deal he sought went sour, told the FBI that he spent more than $1.2 million on the gala, almost all in in-kind donations of goods and services. Rosen told the FEC the event only cost $400,000.
Rosen says he was scammed by Paul, a three-time convicted felon who pleaded guilty in March to securities fraud.
Paul, who was trying to get former President Bill Clinton to publicize an Internet business he started with Spider-Man creator Stan Lee, sued Clinton for backing out when he learned of Paul's criminal record.
He has started an anti-Hillary Web site called the "Hillary Clinton Accountability Project," designed by the Web masters behind the Swift Boat Veterans group that helped defeat John Kerry.
hehehe...
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