Posted on 12/21/2012 10:50:39 AM PST by Sub-Driver
Kerry Has Investments in Companies Accused of Violating Iran Sanctions Daniel Halper December 21, 2012 12:59 PM
John Kerry, who will be nominated later today to be the next secretary of state, is the richest member of the U.S. Senate. His estimated net worth is, at minimum, $198.65 million, according to disclosure forms.
Kerry's disclosure forms also reveal that he has invested in companies accused of doing business with Iran.
One of the companies Kerry is invested in is called Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (Petrobras), it's a Brazilian-based oil and gas corporation. Disclosure forms reveal that Kerry has between $150,000 and 350,000 in assets in the company.
But a 2009 report from Congressional Research Services found that, since 1999, Petrobras has "major investments in Iran's energy sector."
The next year, in 2010, Congress lised Petrobras as a company possibly violating Iran sanctions.
"“Recently, after 50 lawmakers from both parties complained to President Obama about the lack of enforcement and sent him a list of companies that apparently violated the law, the State Department announced a preliminary investigation. Officials said that they were looking at 27 deals, and that while some appeared to have been ‘carefully constructed’ to get around the letter of the law, they had identified a number of problematic cases and were focusing on companies still active in Iran," the New York Times reported then.
"Among the companies on the list Congress sent to the State Department is the Brazilian state-controlled energy conglomerate Petrobras, which last year received a $2 billion Export-Import Bank loan to develop an oil reserve off the coast of Rio de Janeiro."
Senator Kerry did not sign the letter asking the Obama administration to investigate Iran sanctions violators
The New York Times has labeled that company "Possible violator of the Iran Sanctions Act."
"Petrobras, a state owned oil company in Brazil, invested $100 million to explore Iran's offshore oil prospects in the Persian Gulf. It has also received a large loan from the Export Import Bank to develop offshore oil reserves discovered off the coast of Brazil. Diogo Almeida, the economic attaché at the Brazilian Embassy in Iran, said the company is in talks with the Iranians about future oil and gas development projects, but first must determine how much of its resources it wants to devote to the Brazilian discovery. I.A. 'Tony' Piazza, managing director of Petrobras Middle East B.V. - Iran, confirmed that the company remains interested in doing business in Iran," the Times describes the company.
And media reports suggest Petrobras only wants to expand its investments and business in Iran.
Indeed, the company even has an office in Iran. And Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Brazil to signal the close ties of the two countries.
Petrobras is not the only company Kerry has money in that's accused of violating U.S. law.
Anyone voting for his confirmation should be ridiculed and drummed out of office.
Kerry’s investments? C’mon now. The guy is a gigolo who married to very wealthy women. He never made any of his own money.
Insufferable....pompous.....arrogant.....blowhard.
Perfect personality match to the one who will soon be his next boss.
“His net worth”? Surely you mean his second wife’s first husband’s Trust Fund!
Of course. Kerry is an established terrorist. Just go find any of the winter soldiers.
You've been listening to Howie Carr.
The Iranians must have ketchup to squirt all over their French fries.
Kerry is the benedict arnold of our time.
what gets me is how our side handles such hearings. They know he will be confirmed so they go along and don’t rock the boat. they should use the media attention to point out all his negatives. never go along. oppose such nominations and use the media attention to educate
same with impeachment. they don’t try because they know the Senate will not convict. Doesn’t matter. Even if you know you will lose still use the opportunity to educate the masses and document the failings
Kerry should STILL be tried for treason.
It isn’t surprising that this traitor helps Iran get past the sanctions.
I expect Republican Senators to stand in line to kiss his traitorous ass.If Republicans vote to endorse this traitor they should be run out of Washington on a rail.
Lol. One of our Sec. of Defense was head of a company that expanded business in Iran!
This would be a real problem for any "ordinary person" who tried it.
Of course that means Senator Kerry is in the clear.
If Kerry were to ever get married again, he would make a perfect match with Hanoi Jane. She’s quite wealthy too. Always the number one qualification for him.
Hey, Hey; Ho, ho
Kerry: sign the one-eight-oh.
***BREAK***
Documents are held confidential except for official purposes. Is there any reason a Senator sitting on the committee that handles the confirmation for SecState cannot requisition Kerry's entire military file? Since SecState is in the line of succession, they have a duty to do so.
ROGER, THAT!
During the hearings, which will be the first rino to say “My good friend” and which one will be the first to say “I think the president made a great choice in selecting you, John.”
Look, Pretrobras is a widely held stock, trading on the NY Stock Exchange as PBR. Anyone who has a brokerage account can buy some, and it is completely legal to do so.
If I’m not mistaken, I believe George Soros has connections to Petrobras as well.
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