Posted on 10/13/2009 3:48:23 PM PDT by Fawn
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL---Our news partners at the Sun Sentinel report:
U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, who represents Broward and Palm Beach counties, plans to resign from Congress.
He plans to announce his plans at a news conference Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Boca Raton.
A Democratic source with knowledge of Wexler's plans said he is likely to take a public policy job that deals with the Middle East.
Wexler, a senior member of the House Foreign Relations Committee, has long been involved in issues involving Israel and Turkey.
Man, he has aged since he was in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”
Wow. Wexler is not even in the Senate, he is in the House where the Dems have a very comfortable majority.
I wonder who has what on him?
My error has been well documented and I have been thoroughly excoriated for my faux pax. Wexler-the-worm is but a mere State Representative. I promise to be more careful and meticulous in the future!!!!
Living out west insulates one from the desultory transpiration of eastern life. And lucky we are!
FWIW:
http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/2009/10/wexler_obama_israel_policy.php
But for someone who went so far out on a limb to vouch for Obama, maybe Wexler felt betrayed.
Back in June I wrote about how Wexler was trying to broker a better relationship between Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But in order to do so, Wexler needed to demonstrate to his friends in Israel that he could get Obama to soften his stance on freezing settlements. Maybe his efforts had some effect on convincing the administration to move in that direction, but friction remains between Obama and Netanyahu. The Noble Prize hasn’t changed much.
It may be telling, too, that the Obama administration did not move to appoint Wexler as the U.S. ambassador to Israel, despite that position being manned by a holdover from the Bush administration.
//
http://washingtonindependent.com/63700/what-is-wexler-thinking
The move perplexes Mideast-peace watchers. Wexler is young — he was born in 1961 — a favorite of progressives, and not in any electoral danger. Laura Rozen reports that he has children he needs to put through school, and the Center was founded by a Slim-Fast tycoon. But it still seems like a strange choice: it’s described as a shell of its former self, and doesn’t have much policy influence.
Still, some peace-process observers are theorizing that Wexler, with his strong ties to both the Jewish community, the Israelis and the Obama administration, might be part of an inside-outside game by the administration. Wexler, who earlier this month implored the Obama administration to spend more time reaching out to an Israeli public that is quickly souring on him for demanding a settlement freeze in the West Bank, might be able to vouch for Obama to the Israelis and pass messages as a back channel. The Center’s strategic adviser is Avi Gil, a longtime adviser to Israeli President Shimon Peres. And with Wexler’s ability to raise money and solid connections to Israel, the theory goes, he’s well-positioned to help Obama with a constituency the president will need for his peacemaking efforts that’s slipping away. “Wexler’s a great guy to make the case to the Israelis about why an Obama led peace effort is good for them,” said one Israel lobbyist who preferred not to speak on the record ahead of Wexler’s 10 a.m. Florida press conference. Could the Center be a platform for that effort? “I’m sure they could,” as its remaining staffers are “very well-connected.”
Still, that’s just a theory. There hasn’t been a hint of a scandal so far, but the day’s very young.
//
Check out the comments:
More democrats should do the same thing.
Well places like Delray Beach and Boca will send another Brooklyn accented Sonderkommando to congress. A Jew who hates himself/herself, his faith and is ashamed to be Jewish but uses it as a convenient device like liberal African Americans to insulate themselves from criticism. But one thing working against another useless self hating Jewish person occupying the position that since the 1970’s the older NE Jewsih community has been filling the cemetaries and aren’t the force they once were. Older Hispanics are becoming the dominant demographic in North Broward and Southern Palm Beach
“What that gambit did was to gin up prospects in the minds of gullible seniors (and others) that their votes indeed might have been wasted, but what it also proved was that the ‘Rats had premeditation so far as arranging that scam, because you don’t set up telemarketing operations with scripts, staffing, etc., on a moment’s notice. That takes time, planning and $$ MONEY $$. The ‘Rats intended to create chaos in Florida in a failed attempt to steal the State because they knew Al Ghoul was probably not going to prevail in the Electoral College. Florida was their fraudulent ‘firewall’ and we all know the rest.”
Great analysis. Well done.
Wexler benefits handsomely from his association with the Center for Middle East Peace & Economic Cooperation.........which is setup as a "tax-exempt foundation."
REFERENCE News agencies reported that non-profit foundations and charities are abusing their tax-exempt status in several ways. Nonprofit trusts, charities and foundations have the potential and may, in fact, be major money laundering conduits. They wrap themselves in all sorts of high-sounding causes while engaging in activities that are fraudulent and benefit insiders at the expense of law-abiding Americans.
Legal fees, a line item in most N/P accounting reports, are well-used money laundering schemes that evade US taxes and use fraudulent accounting techniques to violate US banking and SEC laws. 501C's are used to run just about every kind of fraudulent accounting schemes, some observers say. N/P routinely pay exorbitant compensation to their officers and others
Form 990 is the main public disclosure documents for charities and foundations, that could be used for accounting fraud and tax evasion, and excessive compensation of specific individuals. Questionable compensation practices may evade IRS and banking and SEC laws. Insider transactions include (1) loans, the (2) sale, (3) exchange or (4) leasing of property to non-profit officers, and others, and reporting (5) "excess benefit transactions" and (6) executive pay.
The IRS has received complaints that 501C’s run just about every kind of off-the-books accounting fraud. Concerns have also been raised that the IRS has been stymied in its efforts to penalize falsified tax documents and official financial instruments to cover-up theft, and the failure of individuals to report stolen money as income (stolen money is taxable).
Foundations may involve collusion in multiple conspiracies to procure classified US documents with laundered or illegally-gotten monies, and may have been engaged in multiple conspiracies with donors to violate SEC, IRS, FEC, US banking laws, while colluding to commit other financial improprieties.
Authorities need to determine whether a Foundation is in collusion with donors, took part in multiple schemes to defraud, and whether laundered illegally-gotten donations were laundered, and whether donors who are officers of publicly-held companies manipulated publicly-reported earnings through a variety of devices designed to produce materially false and misleading financial results, and whether foundation donors fraudulently booked contributions as business expenses.
Authorities need to determine whether a Foundation colluded with its donors who are officers of publicly-held companies in schemes that may have included misusing corporate reserve accounts, concealing losses, inflating asset values and improperly accounting for transactions, as well as deferring profits into reserve accounts, improperly shifting capital funding to other projects to hide illegal payments, and whether a Foundation employed money laundering schemes to evade the IRS, SEC, FEC and US banking laws.
Classic money-laundering schemes work like this: a foundation might solicit a donor to write a check for say $150,000. The foundation would then deposit a percentage for itself, then illegally convert the remainder to another account----perhaps to a putative “consultant” account-----where the donor’s money would be fraudulently converted, then redeposited offshore, or in a foreign bank, where the donor would have access to the funds out of sight of IRS, SEC, and US banking laws.
In another conversion scheme, a tax-free foundation might solicit donors to write checks for $50,000, then deposit the check into a subsidiary bank account perhaps for “legal fees.” The bank would then illegally convert the monies and redeposit them into a campaign account designated by donors, out of sight of the FEC.
Authorities need to determine whether a tax-free Foundation and its donors violated state and federal RICO statutes by participating in (1) securities fraud, (2) US mail fraud, (3) electronic fraud, (4) computer trespass, (5) theft, (6) manipulated inventories, (7) created slush funds, (8) co-opted donors into criminal acts (9) failed to report wrongdoing, (10) breach of fiduciary duty, (11) received insider information, (12) accounting fraud, (13) improperly valued assets, (14) illegal conversions.
The BIGGEST frauds are one foundation writing a check to another foundation---they way these "altruists" launder and siphon off tax-free monies for themselves.
http://www.wpbf.com/politics/21293109/detail.html
U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler Releases Resignation Statement
POSTED: 10:35 am EDT October 14, 2009
“Today, I am announcing that I will be accepting the position of president of the Center for Middle East Peace and will leave Congress effective in January of 2010.
“More than anything, I want to thank the voters of Palm Beach and Broward counties who have allowed me the privilege of representing our community in the United States House of Representatives and the Florida Senate for the past 19 years. I have truly cherished the opportunity to serve my constituents — many of whom make up the generation that sacrificed in World War II and Korea and rebuilt our nation after the Great Depression.
“I have both admired and learned from my constituents, especially their love of country and commitment to community.
“I am proud that every day I have sought to advocate for and provide a voice to my constituents: whether it was fighting for a legitimate vote during the 2000 election, working toward enacting a voter verified paper trail in Florida, or advocating for health care, education, Social Security and countless other issues. Therefore, my decision to leave Congress did not come easy.
“Those who know me and those who have followed my career know that one of my overriding passions has been my work on the Foreign Affairs Committee, helping to strengthen and preserve the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel, and working toward a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East between Israelis and Palestinians and between Israel and the Arab world. Additionally, I have made a special effort to improve congressional relations with key allies in the Muslim world by founding the Turkey and Indonesia caucuses. Moreover, it was an extraordinary honor to serve as a Middle East advisor to President Obama during the presidential campaign, and I treasure the experiences I had traveling the country, and especially throughout Florida, advocating for the president’s Middle East agenda.
“Taking over as president of the Center for Middle East Peace offers me an unparalleled opportunity to work on behalf of Middle East peace for an important and influential nonprofit institute. After much discussion with my family, I have decided that I cannot pass up on this opportunity.
“My one regret is that I will be unable to complete my current term in office, but I truly believe there is no time to waste. We are at a unique and critically tense moment in the history of the Middle East with both significant opportunities to succeed in the Arab-Israeli conflict, as well as major challenges involving Iran, Hamas and al Qaeda. In the coming months, Israeli and Arab leaders will be faced with monumental decisions that will dramatically affect the region and the entire world for decades to come. Critically important American security and foreign policy interests are also at stake. I am convinced that now is the time for me to engage on these issues on a full-time basis.”
Does Glenn Beck or Andrew Breitbart have something on this guy?
Rahm is sending Wexler in to convince Jewish Americans and Israeli’s that Obama’s ‘The Destruction Of Israel Plan’ is what is good for them. Heaven help them!
“The BIGGEST frauds are one foundation writing a check to another foundation-—they way these “altruists” launder and siphon off tax-free monies for themselves.”
How about ACORN/SEIU writing checks back and forth?
Ditto and seemed to feel volume trumphed reasoning as he was the only member who DID NOT NEED A MICROPHONE during impeachment hearings.
Thanks for the wonderful ping nutmeg. Now if we can get rid of that other hateful pit bull, Debbie Wasserman Shultz, there just might be some hope for the Sunshine State.
http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/10/the_curious_resignation_of_robert_wexler.php
Sounds like an ordinary think tank. A sinecure, even. Something fit a 70-year-old, maybe — but not a 48-year-old guy in the prime of his legislative career. Indeed, Democrats in Florida tried to recruit him to run in the Senate primary against Kendrick Meeks and believed that he had a good chance to beat whichever Republican made it through. The Institute he’s joining is, as the Jewish Telegraphic Agency notes, kind of “moribund.” It was founded by Slim Fast magnate F. Murray Abraham (Apparently, S. Daniel Abraham founded slim fast, and F. Murray Abraham played Salieri.) but hasn’t really done much over the past eight years. With more money, it could become a potent charitable advocacy group, but it would join at least a dozen others with roughly the same purpose.
http://www.melissadata.com/lookups/np.asp?zip=Center+for+Middle+East+Peace+economic&submit1=Submit
Organization
Click for more information City State IRS Subsection Assets Income
CENTER FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE ECONOMIC COOPERATION INC WEST PALM BEACH FL 03 $142,673 $905,000
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/Why-Did-Rep-Robert-Wexler-Resign-1292
Obama’s Back Channel to Israel? Spencer Ackerman, noting Wexler’s long involvement on Arab-Israeli conflict, wonders if he could be indirectly serving the White House. “Still, some peace-process observers are theorizing that Wexler, with his strong ties to both the Jewish community, the Israelis and the Obama administration, might be part of an inside-outside game by the administration. Wexler, who earlier this month implored the Obama administration to spend more time reaching out to an Israeli public that is quickly souring on him for demanding a settlement freeze in the West Bank, might be able to vouch for Obama to the Israelis and pass messages as a back channel,” Ackerman, a blogger and Middle East expert, writes. “And with Wexler’s ability to raise money and solid connections to Israel, the theory goes, he’s well-positioned to help Obama with a constituency the president will need for his peacemaking efforts that’s slipping away.”
60 WHAT????? NY???????
Granted, these were several years ago. Still looking for a newer list.
Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation - Sponsor of Congressional Travel
[The first name in each section is the Traveler. The second name is the approver.]
Johnson, Eric J
05/30/03-06/03/03 Wexler, Rep. Robert (-FL)
Syria - Jordan - ... more
Fact-finding $7,362.39
Wexler, Rep. Robert (-FL)
06/28/02-07/03/02 Wexler, Rep. Robert (-FL)
Cairo, Egypt - Tel Aviv, Israel - ... more
Fact-finding; meeting with officials $11,991.33
Rogin, Joshua A
03/03/02-03/08/02 Wexler, Rep. Robert (-FL)
Saudi Arabia - Jordan - ... more
Fact-finding-meetings with government officials $3,533.36
Wexler, Rep. Robert (-FL)
03/03/02-03/08/02 Wexler, Rep. Robert (-FL)
Saudi Arabia - Jordan - ... more
Fact-finding-meetings with government officials $7,772.79
Wexler, Rep. Robert (-FL)
11/25/01-11/29/01 Wexler, Rep. Robert (-FL)
Tel Aviv, Israel
Fact-finding $8,419.05
Wexler, Rep. Robert (-FL)
10/04/01-10/07/01 Wexler, Rep. Robert (-FL)
Saudi Arabia - Bahrain
Fact-finding $10,517.17
Wexler, Rep. Robert (-FL)
02/17/01-02/22/01 Wexler, Rep. Robert (-FL)
Tel Aviv, Israel - Amman, Jordan - ... more
Fact-finding $8,408.27
Wexler, Rep. Robert (-FL)
01/10/00-01/17/00 Wexler, Rep. Robert (-FL)
Morocco - United Arab Emirates - ... more
Education/meeting with government officials $14,408.
Mmmmmmm........that is interesting. Could be Wexler is stepping in where Madoff left off----to help the Palm Beach crowd launder money.
THE SHEER NUMBER of tax-exempt "schools, charities and foundations" connected to Madoff smells to high heaven. Bernie's operation had an unusually large number of tax-exempts "investing" with him.
Bernie was hightailing it to global money-laundering havens just before he got nailed. $12B was pulled out of Bernard L. Madoff’s firm in 2008, and $6B just three months before he was arrested last Dec.
Court appointee Irving Picard, who is ID'ing Madoff's assets, unearthed a labyrinth of interrelated international funds, institutions and entities of almost unparalleled complexity and breadth...... and assets and businesses in 11 places overseas.
No question-----tax evasion and money laundering was the name of the game for the wealthiest Madoffians-----businessmen who were funneling income to Madoff to avoid US taxes.........acting like "philanthropists."
NOTE: the IRS has targeted "foundations and charities" as the locus classicus for money laundering and tax evasion--- the BIGGEST fraud is one charity writing checks to another charity---the way these "altristic philanthropists" siphon off funds for themselves--all tax-free.
Picard sued longtime Madoff "investor" Jeffry Picower. Picower tookout a startling 950% return on his "Madoff investment." Picower's $7.2 billion withdrawal from Madoff's firm, makes the Palm Beach "philanthropist" the biggest beneficiary of Madoff's $65 billion Ponzi scheme.
The legal parameters of prosecutable crimes include making false statements to state and federal officials, filing falsified documents, obstruction of proceedings before state and federal agencies, fiduciary negligence, and obstruction of US justice.
The N/P "foundations and charities" might have facilitated IRS fraud by integrating :
1. Secret control over N/P fund-raising committees.
2. Requiring only one signature on tax-exempt N/P bank checks.
3. Utilizing pre-signed tax-exempt bank checks.
4. Using secret bank accounts to keep secret the actual financial position of tax-exempt N/P's.
5. Assigning bank deposit and account reconciliation functions of tax-exempts to one person.
6. Conspiring to hide oversight of expenses and supporting vouchers from public view.
7. Having no outside auditor to review tax-exempt N/P's statements.
8. Cashing unusually large amounts of tax-exempt checks.
9. Having no official tax-exempt deposit and withdrawal control system.
Authorities should investigate non-profit "foundations and charities" US Postal Service mailings, wire transfers, computer transfers, electronic submissions, and unregulated money transfers, and all bank transfers connected to secret tax-exempt non-profits’ bank accounts.
Fraudulent tax-exempt, non-profit "foundations and charities" might have involved using checks passed from one account to another in multiple conspiracies to launder monies.
The stratagem could be international in its scope when the foundation principles have worldwide connections........as Wexler brags he does.
A Middle East expert writes. “.....Wexler has the ability to raise money, and has solid connections to Israel....."
NOTE Israel is the only place in the world where an individual can debark, go to a bank, deposit a suitcase stuffed with millions, and nobody asks if taxes were paid on it, or where it came from.
Interesting timing, eh?
Crist calls for statewide grand jury investgation of South Florida corruption
by Michael C. Bender | October 14th, 2009
Gov. Charlie Crist is holding a press conference right now calling for a statewide grand jury to investigate political corruption in South Florida and around the state. Crist said he has removed 30 public officials from office around the state since he’s been governor.
“A recent rash of crimes committed by public officials in South Florida has led to a crisis of confidence among those who have elected them to office,” Crist said. “Today, I have petitioned the Florida Supreme Court to impanel a Grand Jury to investigate these crimes, bring indictments and provide specific recommendations to address fundamental problems within the system that may be cultivating a culture of corruption.”
Read the petition here.
BOOKMARK — Terrific sleuthing on this thread!!!
Did you notice that whenever the BHO Adm has to “reposition” one of its players, they always go for a 3-fer or even a 4-fer — ALWAYS:
1) Damage control to prevent having to “throw under the bus” a more impt player or to prevent a scheme from being exposed
2) The repositioned player is always “promoted” no matter how egregious the crimes
3) The repositioning always advances THE PLAN
The Dem Party & BHO adm being run like crime syndicate. Conspiracy; RICO
I know, who’s going to indict?
The putrid stench of this corruptocracy!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~
“Wexler won a seventh term with 66.2 percent. “
Ah! His (outrageous) pension is fully vested. Time to double dip .
~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a speech earlier this month on Middle East policy at the Center for American Progress, Wexler strongly defended Obama’s Middle East peace push.
Indeed - this could be very bad news for Israel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This month, Wexler gave a policy speech before the Center for American Progress in which he said Obama has created a different approach to the Middle East.
“And that construct is: It’s no longer just the Israelis and Palestinians. It’s the Israelis and the Palestinians joined with the entire Arab world, which is charged with responsibilities,” Wexler said.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Crist calls for statewide grand jury investgation of South Florida corruption
~~~~~~~~~~~
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