Posted on 08/31/2009 8:33:39 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO — Over the past dozen years, Hewlett-Packard has sold hundreds of millions of dollars worth of printers and other products to Iran through a Middle East distributor, sidestepping a U.S. ban on trade with the country.
Now the person who headed HP for much of that time, Carly Fiorina, is ramping up to run for U.S. Senate. And questions are emerging about what Fiorina knew about HP's growing presence in Iran during her six-year tenure at the Silicon Valley firm from 1999 to 2005.
With Iran drawing condemnation abroad for its suspected pursuit of nuclear weapons and crackdown on government dissidents, Fiorina could find herself on the defensive. Did the former CEO know that her company was selling its wares to Iran through a European subsidiary and then a Middle Eastern distributor while she was at the helm? If an HP executive had such direct knowledge, that would violate the trade embargo.
Fiorina, a Republican who is gearing up to challenge three-term Democratic incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer in 2010, declined an interview request. But she issued a statement through her campaign spokeswoman saying that she was unaware of any sales to Iran during her time at the company.
"It is illegal for American companies to do business in Iran," the spokeswoman, Beth Miller, wrote. "To her knowledge, during her tenure, HP never did business in Iran and fully complied with all U.S. sanctions and laws."
...
One former federal trade enforcement official said HP's dealings with the country are ripe for further investigation. If Fiorina or other HP employees based in the United States were aware that HP products were being resold to Iran, they could face fines or even prosecution for violating the trade embargo, said Mike Turner, former director of the Office of Trade Enforcement ..
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Can’t the GOP do any better than this?
Well,at least she’s our twit!
This woman has turned everything she ever touched into $#!t. Including the McCain Campaign (not that i supported McCain).
That she appeals to anyone at all as a candidate is beyond stupid.
Equal opportunity hire.
It’s not looks, she’s no Sarah Palin.
sadly it appears not.
She’s not going to have the credibility to beat Boxer.
Seems that McCain did an admirable job of losing all by himself. This can’t be pinned on Carly.
Chuck DeVore for Senate !
Tell you what. WHEN the Democrats actively prosecute everyone from Dashel to Rangel for their tax fraud, I will take this seriously. Until then all their squally about anyone else ethics is just so much hysteric hypocrisy
Any NorCal FReepers out there today? How about Wally Herger for Senate? Has anyone tried to draft him in as a candidate? The guy’s been great through the years, or at least I haven’t heard otherwise.
Why would anyone elect a failed CEO who nearly destroyed the venerable Hewlett-Packard?
>> She’s not going to have the credibility to beat Boxer.
For goodness’ sake, how much credibility do you NEED to beat Boxer?
Remember, this is California. They think differently than we do out here in the civilized world.
“It is illegal for American companies to do business in Iran,” the spokeswoman, Beth Miller, wrote. “To her knowledge, during her tenure, HP never did business in Iran and fully complied with all U.S. sanctions and laws.”
What HP did was not illegal and I doubt that Fiorina had knowledge the distributor was selling in Iran. Once the merchandise is sold to the distributor it's pretty much out of HP's hands.
Fiorina though, is just another country club Republican hack and will lose to Boxer in a landslide.
Amen. But watch out, there are defenders of Carly on FR and why I do not know.
Don't know for certain, but sounds likely.
Not her first dumb idea.
True, but it shows what an idiot JM was/is to have chosen her for his team.
McCain was doomed from the start simply because he was John McCain.
That said, he ran a picture perfect campaign. The man took Barack Obama to school on "how it's done".
Thats right, she is no Palin.
Compared to Palin, she is much more talented and has more achievements.
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