Ex-Democratic Official Pleads Guilty [former finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee

Yahoo ^

[Sub-Driver]

Ex-Democratic Official Pleads Guilty

By MIKE ROBINSON, Associated Press Writer 15 minutes ago

A former finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee pleaded guilty Thursday to threatening to bar an investment company from doing business with the Illinois State Teachers Pension Fund unless it agreed to hire a consultant.

Joseph A. Cari and another man agreed to help federal prosecutors in their investigation of corruption at the pension fund in exchange for a break when they are sentenced.

Cari, 52, a Chicago lawyer, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted extortion. The DNC's national finance chairman in 2000 would face 37 to 46 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines unless he cooperates.

The second man, attorney Steven Loren, pleaded guilty to obstructing the Internal Revenue Service in connection with alleged corruption at the pension fund, which pays the pensions of public school teachers outside Chicago.

In his plea agreement, Cari acknowledged that he had phoned the unnamed investment firm and threatened to have its investment offer removed from the agenda of a pension fund board meeting unless executives of the firm signed a blank contract with a consultant based in the Caribbean.

[Sub-Driver]

my, my....

[rod1]

Wait this is the national DNC right and not the State Democratic Party of Florida? I just can't keep up with the corrupt DEMO leaders without a scorecard.

[pepperdog]

Gosh, the DNC is just filled with lovely people isn't it? But hey! You don't really need a scorecard. Dems can no more resist being crooked than a dog can resist it's own vomit.

[ncountylee]

"blank contract with a consultant based in the Caribbean."

LOL Harder to follow the money and easier for kick backs.

[johniegrad]

Illinois? Teachers Pension Fund? Attorney? DNC?

GUILTY!!

[Enchante]

"threatening to bar an investment company from doing business with the Illinois State Teachers Pension Fund unless it agreed to hire a consultant"

This kind of scandalous behavior is a constant with the 'Rat unions and DNC, etc. This guy just happened to get caught..... how much of the DNC's fundraising and locals' fundraising comes from 'Rat "pay to play" schemes??

[foofoopowder]

pleaded guilty to one count of attempted extortion

Are they talking about Jesse Jackson?

[patj]

with a consultant based in the Caribbean.

I suppose that it's just a coincidence that the Caribbean is where Clinton is rumored to have some of his money. Yeah, I'm sure it's a coincidence. Sure, it is. Definitely a coincidence.

[Ann Archy]

Another Corrupt Democrat???? That's like a "dog bites man" story. It's NEWS if someone can name an HONEST Democrat.....just one.