Posted on 10/27/2005 6:25:10 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
TOLEDO, Ohio - A coin dealer and major GOP donor at the center of a scandal in Ohio state government was charged Thursday with illegally funneling $45,400 in contributions to President Bush's re-election bid.
Tom Noe was accused in a federal indictment of giving money directly or indirectly to 24 friends and associates, who then made the campaign contributions in their own names. In that way, he skirted the $2,000 limit on individual contributions, prosecutors said.
"It's one of the most blatant and excessive finance schemes we have encountered," said Noel Hillman, section chief of the U.S. Department of Justice's public integrity section.
Calls to the White House and Noe's attorneys were not immediately returned. Prosecutors said the Bush campaign has cooperated with their investigation.
Noe also is under investigation over an ill-fated $50 million investment in rare coins he managed for the state workers' compensation fund. Noe has acknowledged that up to $13 million is missing, and Ohio's attorney general has accused him of stealing as much as $6 million. No charges have been filed in that case, though state officials say they plan to do so.
Prosecutors would not reveal the names of the people to whom Noe gave money to contribute or say if any of them would be charged. The indictment said Noe and those who gave his money to Bush had conspired together to violate the contribution limits.
Two people who received just over $20,000 from Noe recruited others who then gave money in their own names, the indictment said.
The coin dealer personally contributed more than $105,000 to Republicans, including Bush and Gov. Bob Taft, during the last campaign.
An investigation into Noe's coin investments led to ethics charges against Taft for failing to report golf outings and other gifts. The governor pleaded no contest in August and was fined $4,000.
U.S. Attorney Gregory White said prosecutors were negotiating Noe's surrender with his lawyer.
Noe's attorney, Bill Wilkinson, said in a statement that Noe's surrender was complicated by the fact that Noe was in South Florida and that many courthouses there were still closed because of Hurricane Wilma.
If convicted, Noe faces up to 15 years in prison and fines up to $950,000.
This 2001 file photo shows Thomas W. Noe at the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. A federal grand jury has indicted Noe, a prominent GOP contributor in an investigation into contributions to President Bush's re-election campaign, his attorney, Jon Richardson said Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005. (AP Photo/Will Shilling) File)
About time. Now let's (us Buckeyes) get rid of our RINO governor.
It's Taft's fault.
Hillary got 10 times that amount illegally for her senatorial campaign.
Noe also is under investigation over an ill-fated $50 million investment in rare coins he managed for the state workers' compensation fund.
I remember reading about this some months ago on FR and I knew no good could come from it.
Noe has acknowledged that up to $13 million is missing, and Ohio's attorney general has accused him of stealing as much as $6 million.
Noe's attorney, Bill Wilkinson, said in a statement that Noe's surrender was complicated by the fact that Noe was in South Florida and that many courthouses there were still closed because of Hurricane Wilma.
That second paragraph must be the largest pile of BS I've ever heard.
The First Amendment doesn't protect only "objective" journalists; it protects speech and press on any topic generally and political opinion in particular - and not only out of season but right before elections, when political speech/press might actually affect votes.The Congress, the President, and SCOTUS all signed on to a tyrannical violation of this man's rights.
When a republican gives $2k apiece to a bunch of his friends to donate to conservative campaigns, that's illegal. But when Soros gives millions of dollars to his friends at moveon.org and whatnot to donate to liberal socialist (fascist) campaigns, that's perfectly fine.
Thanks for the ping, well stated comment. BTTT!
It's not like he got the money form Wen Ho Lee or someone from another Communist country, or rented a government office out for $100,000 a night or had $50,000 coffees on government time in a government office. Wait I forgot that legal./sarcasm
BTTT
"It's one of the most blatant and excessive finance schemes we have encountered," said Noel Hillman, section chief of the U.S. Department of Justice's public integrity section.
That must be because they haven't investigated many. The Democrats have been using this ploy for years and years.
Usted está absolutamente correcto, mi amigo.
So what say you???
...Mr. President. :o)
Tom Noe, right, leaves federal court with his attorney, Milton H. Malman, after posting bond in Orlando, Fla., Friday, Oct. 28, 2005. Noe is facing charges that he gave thousands of dollars to other people to contribute to President Bush's re-election campaign in an attempt to skirt a $ 2,000 limit on individual contributions.(AP Photo/peter Cosgrove)
Gregory A. White, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio announces the indictment of Tom Noe, as protesters Tom Joseph, right, and John Henry Fullen stand in the background, during a press conference in Toledo, Ohio, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005. The three counts of the indictment involve Noe's campaign contributions to the 2004 George W. Bush presidential re-election campaign. (AP Photo/Daniel Miller)
The more common dodge: Give employees a $2000 bonus for donating $2000 to a political campaign. It seems to be what Harriet Miers was involved in.
>> Noe's attorney, Bill Wilkinson, said in a statement that Noe's surrender was complicated by the fact that Noe was in South Florida and that many courthouses there were still closed because of Hurricane Wilma. <<
In fact, Noe was last seen building a large boat near a petting zoo. (KJV joke.)
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY!
Think you'd ever see this headline fit a story in the 1990s?:
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION BUSTS DEMOCRATIC FUND-RAISER
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