Developer guilty of illegal contributions to Harry Reid

AP ^ | 05/29/13 | SCOTT SONNER

[MissesBush]

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- A Nevada powerbroker who headed a billion-dollar real estate company and pulled the strings of state politics as a prominent lobbyist for more than a decade was convicted Wednesday of making illegal campaign contributions to U.S. Sen. Harry Reid.

Harvey Whittemore, 59, could face up to 15 years in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines after a federal jury returned guilty verdicts on three counts tied to nearly $150,000 illegally funneled to Reid's re-election campaign in 2007.

Later in the day, U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks declared a mistrial on a count of lying to the FBI after jurors said they were deadlocked on that charge.

Whittemore stood with his arms behind his back and shook his head slightly after the verdicts were read. He was convicted of making excessive campaign contributions, making contributions in the name of another and causing a false statement to be made to the Federal Election Commission.

Each count carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The judge set sentencing for Sept. 23.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Myhre said prosecutors will review the case before deciding whether to refile the charge of lying to the FBI during a February 2012 interview.

Dominic Gentile, Whittemore's lead defense counsel, said the convictions will be appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit of Appeals. He said a case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court touches on similar issues related to the constitutionality of federal limits on campaign contributions.

Among other things, Gentile said the defense will challenge Hicks' refusal to allow the defense to reference an Alabama case against the Federal Election Commission.

"His conduct was protected by the First Amendment," Gentile told reporters at a news conference with Whittemore and his wife, Annette...

[MissesBush]

Let me guess, another salvo of "I didn't know anything about it until I read about it in the papers" coming our way from yet another corrupt Democrat, this time the Senator from Dim Bulb Nevada, Harry Reid. No way would Reid's campaign, and Reid himself, not have known the source of these donations and that they were illegal. It's their job to know. And Harry's as safe as a kitten because the banana republic Attorney General, the filthy Eric Holder, needs Harry in the Senate to keep him safe from Senate scrutiny, so don't expect the Justice Department to look into Dirty Harry.

[Mastador1]

I don’t think so, Reid was certainly aware of the trial and said he would have testified if he was called, maybe old dingy will still have to testify about it.

[FlingWingFlyer]

This is going to call for an Eric Holder “special”. Probation and 25 hours community service.

[happyathome]

Maybe it is a little deeper and more cynical than you think. If this prosecution was Federal, then maybe it was a successful attempt to put blackmail over Dingy’s head to ensure his compliance in the Senate.

[Revolting cat!]

Add to the list of coming presidential pardones!

(MissesBush - Jenna and Barbara?)

[bray]

It’s only a crime if it is a Repub.

Pray for America to Wake Up

[Paladin2]

Hairy Reed guilty of accepting illegal contributions...

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

You Know The Drill
Click the Pic

Hey! FReepers!
Help Fill The Tank!
How About It? Huh?
It Ain't Askin' Too Much
Ya Know....

[Revel]

“I don’t think so, Reid was certainly aware of the trial”

You can bet he was also aware of the illegal contributions as they were happening.

[TurboZamboni]

If his name were Michelle Bachmann, this would lead all the MSM nightly news stories.

[vette6387]

” Reid was certainly aware of the trial and said he would have testified if he was called”

Yeah, he would have “testified” like Lois Lerner.

[familyop]

I wonder if such actions will follow against the builder/regulator rackets in nearly every county in the rest of our country.

[Brad from Tennessee]

[You can bet he was also aware of the illegal contributions as they were happening.]

Indeed. What good does it do a lobbyist to funnel tens of thousands of dollars to a politician if the politician doesn’t know? Hopefully this guy is averse to doing prison time and will incriminate Harry.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

All will be well if he gives the money back or donates it to the Orphan’s Fund and makes a heartfelt apology. Only the donor goes to jail...the donee gets off scott free.

[rdcbn]

One of the enduring mysteries of the Universe is how a Reid crony could be found guilty of making illegal campaign contributions, but Reid himself manages to avoid being charged with accepting illegal campaign contributions.

[1010RD]

Now multiply times 100 and you’ve got yourself a Senate. This is why Senators need to be elected by State Congresses. That way they’re beholding to a majority of state senators and representatives and not just a few money men.

[Son House]

Yes, funny how yesterday the media kept repeating it was Michelle Bachmann’s wrong, and now when it happens to Democrat Harry Reid, it’s the developer who’s guilty of making illegal campaign contributions.

[American in Israel]

Can you imagine the disaster for the Evil sect if Obama was impeached before he could pardon the lot.

I amazes me that a private citizen can get 15 years in prison for giving a bribe, but a politician skates for accepting a bribe. A bit of remedial spelling for the Congress Class, Justice is not spelled JustUs.

[Fedora]

Glad they finally made some progress on this. From Part 5 of my 2007 series on Reid:

Harvey Whittemore of Lionel, Sawyer & Collins, the most powerful lobbyist in Nevada, who has represented numerous gambling interests, notably fellow Reid contributor Steve Wynn. Whittemore has employed all four of Reid’s sons, and Reid has repeatedly come under criticism for using his influence to promote legislation favorable to a Coyote Springs Valley real estate development project where Whittemore has been represented by Reid’s son Leif. Whittemore contributed $5,000 to Searchlight in December 1997.

Caught in the Searchlight: Hsu, Reid, and the Searchlight Leadership Fund