Posted on 09/29/2005 12:34:58 PM PDT by hipaatwo
Senator arranged for grant now involved in indictment of pastors
By TONY BATT >STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON -- The money that led to the indictment this week of two Las Vegas pastors and the wife of one of them came from federal grants arranged by Sen. Harry Reid in September 2001, a Reid spokeswoman said Wednesday.
Moving to distance Reid from a possible scandal, aide Tessa Hafen said the senator sought the money on behalf of a nonprofit social services agency and not for the churches or persons who have been accused of mishandling the money.
"The money was administered by the Department of Justice, and it went to the agency in Nevada (Alliance Collegiums Association of Nevada)," Hafen said.
The Rev. Willie Davis, the longtime pastor of Second Baptist Church, and his wife, Emma, were indicted Tuesday on fraud charges with an associate minister, the Rev. McTheron Jones.
They are accused of spending $330,000 from federal grants on themselves although the money was intended for halfway houses for prison inmates in Southern Nevada.
The indictment identifies Willie Davis as president of the Alliance Collegiums Association of Nevada board of directors.
In late 2002, Emma Davis became executive director, and Jones was assistant director.
According to the indictment, a grant of $423,000 was approved for the alliance in September 2002.
The indictment charges the defendants of using the grant money to benefit themselves.
A Reid relationship with the Second Baptist Church surfaced in 1997, when the senator donated $250 to the church where Davis was and still is pastor.
The money came from John Huang, who was convicted of making illegal contributions to the 1996 re-election campaign of President Clinton.
At about the same time, Reid donated another $250 from Huang to the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Las Vegas.
Reid said he made the contributions to the churches instead of returning the money to Huang because he did not think Huang deserved it.
Hafen said Reid has not made contributions to Davis or his church since 1997.
Reid has attended services at the Second Baptist Church "about three or four times" since 1997, Hafen said.
"He says hello to the pastor (Davis) when he goes to the church, but apart from that, the only other time he has seen him was in May when he met with about 30 or 40 ministers to organize a faith-based summit," Hafen said.
The DemocRATs have a "Dark Cloud hanging over their Party" / another RAT talking point of today
Went for the gold -- as in David Gold!
Dallas radio show and a great FReeper!
Woo-Hoo!
I also included a personal note to BO'R saying "this kinda corruption stuff is right up your alley, you always go after the corrupt people in power!"
So where did the money go?
Excellent! Good bait for BO'R.
Don't forget to send this to Chris at Hardball. I am sure he will want to lead off his show with this breaking news.
Dare we hope?
Be still my beating heart...
John Huang? I was wondering when his name would appear again along with Maria Hsia? Huang had a secret clearence while working for the Commerce Department. He traveled with Ron Brown on the China trade trip. Soon the Asian connection will be appearing to assist Hillary with shopping bags of money and expertise. Mochtar Riady, where are you?
We're ALL hoping there's a there, here....lol.
No, Reid wouldn't have to step down because THE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE THE RULE THAT SAYS THEY HAVE TO STEP DOWN FROM LEADERSHIP IF INDICTED! Only the REPUBLICANS have that rule. You can see which party coddles crooks.
I sent it to Hugh Hewitt and Ace of Spades.
Hmmmm, could it be that the democrats might not like the door that they have just opened. You want a culture of corruption dems, we will show you whose culture it is.
This is what the Republicans must do. They must pursue these types of stories with vigor. The dems honestly think that they can shout corruption without having their own glass house damaged. I say BS.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1997/Aug-09-Sat-1997/news/5860070.html
Where's the CNN Poll,
"Should Reid Resign?"
Must have missed it :(
I believe you are 100% correct, and the Democrats will not question one thing! I wish Nancy Pelosi was required to explain why Democrats have never been punished for their illegal acts. I'm still waiting for Jim McDermott to be held accountable for the many laws he broke while violating Newt Gingrich's and John Boehner's privacy.
Way to go!
Are the wildfires near you? Hope all is o.k.
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