Free Republic

A Texas state representative is accusing a Las Vegas-based Honorary Consul of Lebanon of providing private air travel for Texas Democrat lawmakers who fled the Lone Star State to block an imminent vote on Republican-crafted Election Integrity legislation. “A coalition of members of the Texas state House boarded private planes purportedly owned by Philippe Khalil Ziade, a Lebanese-American entrepreneur and honorary consul of Lebanon in Nevada, according to Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park),” reports Kenny Webster of KPRC Radio. “Ziade is the founder and chairman of Las Vegas based Growth Holdings and is highly engaged in Lebanese politics...

Adam Victor, president of TransGas Development in New York, was in town to network and find business opportunities. Someone introduced him to Kelley, and the two spoke in a VIP section of the convention hall. Victor said Kelley described herself as a close friend to Petraeus, which impressed him. In fact, he said, Kelley told him she might help him with a coal gasification project in South Korea. She said she could gain him access to the highest levels of the South Korean government, Victor said. Kelley told him she was an honorary consul for South Korea, and Victor said...