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Leslie, you ignorant slut.
Posted on 05/12/2005 11:53:33 PM PDT by doug from upland
Clinton Friend With Legal Woes Testifies on Fund-Raising
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By LESLIE EATON Published: May 13, 2005 LOS ANGELES, May 12 - Add one to the odd cast of criminal characters haunting the trial of David F. Rosen, who is facing felony charges in federal court here in connection with his fund-raising for the senatorial campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The new cast member is James Levin, a Chicago businessman who on the witness stand on Thursday said that he had become a major Democratic donor and fund-raiser at the behest of former President Bill Clinton, whom he called a "dear friend."
Mr. Levin also testified that on Monday he had entered into a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in Chicago under which he could face as much as 20 years in prison on charges involving conspiracy, bribery or fraud. But he is hoping a sentencing judge will look favorably on him because of his cooperation in Mr. Rosen's case, he said.
The Illinois case involves the activities of a fence company Mr. Levin owned; a defense lawyer said in court that the crimes included inflating bills for the public schools in Chicago. Mr. Levin is sometimes described as a former strip-club owner, but he testified that he owned the Doll House for only six months many years ago, and besides, it was really a "bikini bar."
Federal prosecutors put Mr. Levin on the stand to testify against Mr. Rosen, whom he described as "my mentor in politics, basically."
Mr. Rosen is accused of deliberately underreporting the costs of an August 2000 money-raising event called the Hollywood Gala Salute to President William Jefferson Clinton. The government contends that the event - a concert and dinner - cost more than $1 million. But Mr. Rosen caused it to be listed with the Federal Election Commission as costing just $400,000 in order to keep campaign contributions available for other uses, prosecutors have said. While prosecutors have said that Mrs. Clinton was not involved in the illegal activity, the case - and Mr. Levin's testimony today - has shown how questionable people were able to gain access to Mr. and Mrs. Clinton.
In their defense, Mr. Rosen's lawyers have contended that Mr. Rosen was himself hoodwinked by two other men who worked on the event with him and Mr. Levin.
One is Aaron Tonken, who is serving five years, three months in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud involving fund-raising for charities. The other is Peter F. Paul, who has an extensive criminal record and is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to securities fraud.
Neither of these men will testify at the trial.
Someone who is expected to testify, Raymond Reggie, pleaded guilty last month to federal charges in New Orleans stemming from a scheme to defraud banks.
The prosecution's first two witnesses this morning discussed Federal Election Commission procedures and requirements, and engaged in some rather convoluted explanations involving the various kinds of contributions known as soft money and hard money. One member of the jury appeared to start dozing off before snapping awake again; others grimaced or stared at the ceiling.
Mr. Levin then testified that he got involved in the event at the president's request, and he spent weeks here trying to make sure everything went smoothly. David E. Kendall, a lawyer for the Clintons, declined to comment on Mr. Levin's testimony.
Pressed by the defense to describe his role, Mr. Levin said, "I was a fireman, I put out fires, because there were always problems."
Mr. Levin recounted conversations in which he said Mr. Rosen had asked him to keep quiet about the lavish hotel rooms - and use of a Porsche convertible - Mr. Tonken had provided for Mr. Rosen.
And he said that he and Mr. Rosen both knew that the costs of the gala were out of control, and that on the night of the rehearsal, Mr. Rosen had told him that "The cost of this event will never be the cost of this event - meaning we will never admit how much we had spent."
Mr. Rosen's chief lawyer, Paul M. Sandler, had a sort of Perry Mason moment as he began to cross-examine Mr. Levin, reminding him that they had met last November at Mr. Rosen's wedding. When they discussed the charges against Mr. Rosen, "didn't you say you believe them to be false?" Mr. Sandler demanded.
No, Mr. Levin said, he had described them using an "experlative," which after intervention by the judge in the case, A. Howard Matz, proved to mean an expletive, one associated with cattle manure. His point, Mr. Levin said, was that the charges were politically motivated.
I was thinking of trying to attend tomorrow.
Why is it that so many are willing to make excuses for the Clintons, but then again considering the source there isn't much to wonder about. BTW, good try Doug, an open mind is good thing, it's just too bad you weren't dealing with someone who also had one.
bttt
BTTT
Each of these characters is either a convicted felon or an indicted and 'gonna be felon.' And these are the people on whom our former president and current junior senator from NY relied...that the press is not tearing into this is just a horrible indictment of the main stream media...the MSM is clearly just a shill organization for the Democrats and the Clintons...awful, just awful.
This is a joke, didn't the Judge go out of his way to make some very strage statements already?
He did indeed.
The Judge was appointed by the Clintons and managed to already call John Paul a notorious character and called Hillary free from sin before a single word of this trial went forward, right?
How does he get away with staying in this case?
I have hardly seen a better case proving conflict of interest for a trial than this Judge who starts off with these statements.
Go for it, Doug. Just shower afterwards, and you'll not catch anything : )
Gee, watching democrat thugs try to weasel out of a mess with the help of greasy lawyers...sure you don't have anything better to do, like, say, put air in your tires or maybe change the filter in your air conditioner?
But, then again, a FReeper onsite to report on the goings on would be educational. Alright, but I must warn you...the pay is low.
Sandler is obviously more interested in protecting Hillary than he is in defending Rosen. I find it hard to believe Rosen hasn't figured this out. If Rosen doesn't take the stand and implicate Hillary, he is screwed. Then again, maybe he knows his life is on the line if he doesn't go down quietly.
This is how gov't prsecutors usually work. They find a pig that squeals and offer him something in exchange for his testimony. It is rather odd for a Clintonite to go for this traditional bait. They usually lie, forget and do some time rather than squeal. I wonder what's up?
I must wonder who appointed the judge who will sentence him? It sure seems nobody in Washington is ever really held responsible . . .
Yep, sounds like a Clinton guy alright.
But he is hoping a sentencing judge will look favorably on him because of his cooperation in Mr. Rosen's case, he said.
More likely he hopes the Clintons were able to dig up something on the judge and told him to go easy on the the guy.
Hopefully all of the truth will finally get out
The Clymers at the NY Slimes are really on this story, eh? You can tell they love reporting it. Hehehehehe...
Actually, it struck me funny that they slant it to sound like Rosen's circle of pals instead of the Clintons. Still applying the teflon.
I am shocked that this appeared in the NY Times. There has been a blackout on this story. If Trent Lott or Tom Delay had the same type of situtation, this would be front page news for a month.
Leslie, you ignorant slut.
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