FEDS PROBE HILLARY CLINTON SENATE CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISER

ABC News and LA Times ^ | June 18, 2003 | Mark Halperin

[ewing]

The Los Angles Times breaks news of a federal investigation into the activities of celebrity fundraiser Aaron Tonken and his involvement with a 1 million dollar Hollywood political event for Hillary Rodham Clintons 2000 Senate campaign.

The inquiry raises the stakes in a longstanding controversy that has pitted Bill and Hillary Clinton against some of the most dogged critics who have publicly questioned the source of underwriting for the gala.

For Tonken, it also opens the prospect of cooperation with authorities in return for a possible plea deal.

It couldnt be determined whether Clinton or her campaign is a target and a spokesman for the New York Senator said her office had no information on any probe.

Tonken has not testified before a Grand Jury, said sources close to the case, who requested anonymity.

In addition, allegiations by California's Attorney General that Tonken has engaged in fraudulent fund raising activities could be used to damage his credibility.

Still, sources say investigators are interested in the event he organized in August 2000, on the eve of the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.

Last week, US Magistrate Judge Paul Game Jr. postponed proceedings against Tonken one one charge of mail fraud in connection with his charity work.

At the time, Game sealed a stipulation related to the 90 day delay, citing sensitive matters discussed in the court papers.

[ewing]

Page down to the bottom to get the article, more text printed than could be found by Los Angeles Times restrictions.

This must have been the story the Chicago papers were hinting about regarding a federal investigation

[princess leah]

What does THAT mean "it couldn't be determined whether Clinton's senate campaign was targeted? Is there ANOTHER campaign she ran at the time we DON'T know about (besides the pardoning the terrorists, etc)...

[firewalk]

bttt

[mewzilla]

Considering who wrote this, I'm wondering what Halperin left out...

[tractorman]

I'm shocked and deeply saddened and furthermore I have no recollection of that fund raiser.

[ewing]

background http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/917429/posts

[SkiHatGuy]

He better have his life insurance policy up-to-date. I could see him committing "Arkancide" in the near future.

[mewzilla]

Click here for an entertainment tidbit mentioning Bill, Hill, and Tonken. Interesting...

[ewing]

Sonds like a garden variety Hollywood sleazeball..

[mewzilla]

Here's another link mentioning the Toons and Tonken. Here's a snippet:

Interestingly, one of the central figures of the pardon scandal, Denise Rich, introduced event producer Aaron Tonken to the Clintons and the Gores. Mr. Tonken gets credit for first raising the idea to Mr. Paul about raising Stan Lee's public profile through political donations.

[OldFriend]

And dumbfounded too.

[ewing]

[ewing]

Imagine that. Da-Knees and Tonken know each other.. great work on the google button!

[Republicus2001]

so what does Spiderman have to do with this?

[Bullish]

Oh dear! How are Hillarys' minions going to spin this so as to place the blame on George W. Bush?

[ewing]

Someday, sometime Hillary is going to make a mistake and join Martha Stewart as a cellmate..the law of averages has to even out sometime

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

Fortunately, the camera doesn't lie. Unfortunately, the Clintons do.

[mewzilla]

Here's something else. The pertinent part:

I t is a case made for Hollywood.

A Canadian high-school dropout has been slapped with a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles for allegedly swindling $1.5-million from celebrity charity events.

Aaron Tonken, a native of Windsor, Ont., is accused of diverting the money into his own accounts from fundraisers involving stars such as Michael J. Fox and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Mr. Tonken says he has done nothing wrong -- saying he struggled to meet the demands of celebrities and agents who insisted on hefty appearance fees for the fundraisers.

Mr. Tonken is a bit of a Hollywood story himself: Just 10 years ago, he was reportedly unemployed and living in a homeless shelter. He used his charm and cold-calling skills to crack the upper echelons of the star system there.

Mr. Tonken also organized a million-dollar benefit for Hillary Clinton during her Senate campaign. It turns out they were introduced by Denise Rich, whose fugitive husband Marc was pardoned as part of Bill Clinton's presidential swan song.

I hope the guy's naturalized, because if he's not he's in trouble. I checked the FEC records, and Tonken's given money to the Dems. Isn't that like illegal if you're not a citizen?

[Allegra]

Someday, sometime Hillary is going to make a mistake and join Martha Stewart as a cellmate..the law of averages has to even out sometime.

From your lips to God's ears. Let it be sooner rather than later!

[KCmark]

Does anyone care that at DU, they think the GOP elimintes their enemies, and on FR they think that the dems eliminate their eneimies? Does anyone care that both boards are very concerned with voter fraud? Does anyone feel like we, the citizens, are the ones losing out?