Ex-Congressman Mezvinsky Sentenced in Fraud Case

AP via Lycos.com ^ | 01/09/2003

[GeneD]

Edward M. Mezvinsky, a former congressman from Iowa, was sentenced to more than 6 1/2 years in prison Thursday for defrauding business associates, friends and family -- including his mother-in-law -- of millions of dollars.

U.S. District Judge Stewart Dalzell rejected a plea for leniency from Mezvinsky, who blamed his actions on his manic-depression and the side effects of an anti-malaria drug that he took on trips to Africa.

"Whatever impairment Mr. Mezvinsky may have had -- and I am dubious in the extreme about that -- it simply did not contribute to the ... crimes which took place over 12 years," Dalzell said.

Through tears, the 65-year-old Mezvinsky told the judge that he still does not completely comprehend his actions.

"I went into a spiral that turned into the house of cards that fell," he said.

Mezvinsky and his wife, Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, who also served in Congress, were once high-profile Democrats in suburban Philadelphia who hobnobbed with Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Prosecutors said Mezvinsky began soliciting cash for fraudulent schemes in the 1980s and eventually collected millions for business ventures that never materialized, including an oil deal, a coin trading company and an effort to sell bracelets in Africa.

In the meantime, Mezvinsky fell victim to several Nigerian investment scams and lost much of his borrowed money.

He pleaded guilty to 31 counts of fraud in September.

Federal prosecutors called Mezvinsky a con man who faked mental illness to avoid punishment. They asked for nine to 11 years in prison.

Mezvinsky served in Congress from 1973 to 1977, representing his home state of Iowa. He served on the House Judiciary Committee that voted to impeach President Nixon.

He later became an ambassador to a U.N. commission and Pennsylvania Democratic Party chairman. He also ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1980 and Pennsylvania attorney general in 1988.

His legal troubles began in 2000 and stalled the political career of his wife, who served a term in Congress and ran unsuccessfully for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor in 1998. She dropped out of a Senate run in 2000.

Margolies-Mezvinsky was never charged in the case. She has said she left the family finances to her husband.

[GeneD]

I slightly altered the title.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

I note that his party affiliation (Rat) was not mentioned until partway through the article. Had he been GOP I am sure it would have been part of the headline.

[B Knotts]

In the meantime, Mezvinsky fell victim to several Nigerian investment scams and lost much of his borrowed money.

coffee | nose > keyboard

[lormand]

A crooked DemocRAT?

NO WAY!!!!!

[Ditto]

coffee | nose > keyboard

Me too. Do you think he really gave them his bank account number? ROTFLMAO.

[RLK]

I remember Mezvinsky from the '60s. He was a college professor at the University of Iowa. He was an extreme leftist and was elected by the countercultural Iowa City vote.

[trebb]

Through tears, the 65-year-old Mezvinsky told the judge that he still does not completely comprehend his actions.

It all depends on what the meaning of "fraud" is yer honor...

[CFW]

I slightly altered the title

We posted this at the same time, my thread was locked as a duplicate, so I added my "key words" to yours. Hope you don't mind.

[Enterprise]

Mezvinsky and his wife, Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, who also served in Congress, were once high-profile Democrats in suburban Philadelphia who hobnobbed with Bill and Hillary GOLLUM Clinton.

So what did this Dilbert expect anyway? You hobnob with rats and corrupted river folk you end up living in dark caves. It's all so simple!

[Temple Owl]

That's been true in just about every story written about this creep and his wife. If he were a Republican, it would have been mentioned 15 times in the story and the editorial page mavens would have been screaming for blood.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Had he been GOP I am sure it would have been part of the headline.

Yeah, I was just applying that rule in my own mind when I recognized the last name, and then found where they 'fessed up that it was a (D).

[genew]

He was a college professor at the University of Iowa.

I was there from '63-'66. Was he there then? What department was he in?

[GeneD]

Not at all. It's happened to me too. (I just added the congressman's name.)

[ken5050]

Wasn't she the one who gave Clinton the vote he needed on some measure, and that's why she lost...I don't remember the details...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I remember his ads on the radio in 1969 or 1970. I don't remember him being on the faculty, tho.

[Temple Owl]

Yes, she was the one. I don't remember the details either. I think she was also a local TV talking head before going to Washington.

[nygoose]

Clinton's retroactive 1993 tax cut?

[Enterprise]

I think you're right. She came in promising her constituants that she would never vote to raise taxes. The bull males of the rat party growled at her and she cast a crucial vote to help Clinton increase taxes. She said she got something valuable in return, like an Education summit, or some such nonsense. Anyway, the next election the voters promptly threw her scrawny ass out.

[ken5050]

I thought so..thanks for the info....

[Jimmy Valentine]

Marjorie was a fraud as a congresswoman and as a news reporter. She should have been charged with something.

Regards,