U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch helps spring Atlanta R&B producer Dallas Austin from Dubai jail

Yahoo News ^ | 7/08/06

[Libloather]

Hatch helps spring Austin from Dubai jail
By The Associated Press
Sat Jul 8, 5:50 PM ET

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, sits at a piano in his Capitol Hill office in this May 6, 1997 file photo. Hatch, a musician in his own right, helped secure the release of Atlanta R&B producer Dallas Austin from a Dubai jail after a drug conviction, his office confirmed Saturday July 8, 2006. (AP Photo/Cameron Craig, File)

SALT LAKE CITY - U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, a musician in his own right, helped secure the release of Atlanta R&B producer Dallas Austin from a Dubai jail after a drug conviction, the senator's office confirmed Saturday.

In a statement released through his staff, the conservative Republican said he was contacted by Austin's attorneys, then called the ambassador and consul of the United Arab Emirates in Washington on Austin's behalf.

A Grammy winner who has produced hits for Madonna, Pink and TLC, Austin was arrested May 19 and convicted of drug possession for bringing 1.26 grams of cocaine into Dubai.

On Tuesday a court sentenced him to four years in jail and said Austin, 34, should be deported after serving the term. Hours later, Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum pardoned and released Austin.

Beyond saying Hatch has "good relations with the ambassador and other good people in Dubai," his office gave The Associated Press no specifics about Hatch's dealings with the Dubai government.

Hatch spokesman Peter Carr said he did not know whether the senator and Austin had ever met, but he confirmed that both employ Atlanta entertainment lawyer Joel A Katz. Hatch has written and recorded hundreds of religious and patriotic songs.

Katz and Washington attorney Joe Reeder traveled to Dubai to try to secure Austin's release, The New York Times reported in a story published Saturday. Musicians Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones also intervened as character references, the paper reported.

Carr said it was former Hatch staffer Nancy Taylor who contacted the senator about Austin, the Times reported. Taylor, who worked for Hatch on health care issues until 1991, now works with Reeder at Greenberg & Traurig.

Austin's attorneys said they enlisted Hatch's help because he has influence with Dubai, the paper reported. Hatch this year supported the Dubai-based DP World in its bid to manage several American ports.

In his statement, Hatch said he was "grateful to the leaders of Dubai for agreeing to provide a workable and compassionate solution for this situation."

He also said he was confident Austin "will learn from this experience."

[Erasmus]

P-Doobie Dubai

P-Doobie Dubai...ohh, yea, a-way we go
yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah
P-Doobie Dubai...oh, baybee, a-way we go

A fine little girl, she wait for me
Me Catch the ship, a-cross the sea
I sailed the ship, all a-lone
I never think, I'll make it home

P-Doobie Dubai...ohh, yea, a-way we go
yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah
P-Doobie Dubai...oh, baybee, a-way we go

[Ready4Freddy]

LOL!! I've had that refrain running thru my brain all morning after coming up w/ Dallas Austin's 'real' name! ;>)

[daybreakcoming]

I used to have a lot of admiration for Sen. Hatch.

I have a lot of abomination for Sen Hatch. Wonder what kind of deal he had to make for this and why, why, why, did he do this? And please media - get off the shared love of music crapola. They share the same entertainment lawyer. Note to Hatch: Either shut up and sing or take care of our country's business.

[VictoryGal]

> I knew Hatch personally 40 years ago when he was a conservative, he's morphed into a mushy RINO.

I don't recognize the Republican party anymore. It's time for another revolution in the Senate. This time we throw the Dims AND the Repubs (except for true friends like Tancredo) OUT and let real 3rd party Americans in!

[af_vet_rr]

I am sure that any ordinary American caught with drugs would get the same favor from Hatch.

sarcasm

I am really getting sick of how the folks at the top take care of each other.

If they shared the same lawyer as Hatch or were part of Hollywood or the music industry - sure, anything for a cokehead, I mean fellow American.

Hatch is deep in their pocket, and has no problems helping these types out, whether it's a cokehead that was busted in another country for breaking their rules, or some nutty scheme concerning how you want to listen to your music versus how they want you to listen to "their" music.

[af_vet_rr]

Hatch isn't bad, for a US Senator, but when he does stuff like this it drives me batty.

I would like to think we would hold our Senators to a higher standard, something other than using their connections to help cokeheads to get off.

[Nate505]

Good 'ol Orrin Hatch. He's for mandatory minimum sentences for regular American's caught with coke, but he's willing to pull strings to pardon his buddies who are caught in other countries with coke. Another worthless WOD hypocrite showing his true colors.