Norman Hsu convicted of violating campaign finance laws

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Democratic fundraiser convicted of corruption

NEW YORK (AP) - Longtime fundraiser Norman Hsu was convicted Tuesday of violating campaign finance laws in a case that became an embarrassment to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other prominent Democrats he courted.

A jury in federal court in Manhattan deliberated less than three hours over two days before returning the guilty verdict. Hsu, already jailed following an earlier guilty plea, showed no reaction as he was led out of court.

"I think he expected it because it was quick," said his attorney, Alan Seidler. The lawyer said there would be an appeal.

Hsu, 58, had been accused of using clients of his fraudulent investment business, including actors and other political novices, as straw donors to make thousands of dollars in campaign donations. The scheme was designed to bypass rules limiting the amount any single individual or group can donate.

During the trial that began May 12, television actress Susan Chilman testified that she given nearly $42,000 to Clinton and other Democratic candidates. Once she took out her checkbook, Hsu would simply give her a name and an amount, then later reimburse her, said Chilman, who's had roles in "Brothers & Sisters," "CSI Miami" and "ER" under the stage name Susan Pari.

Jurors also heard testimony from several other investors who recounted how Hsu showed off his political connections by decorating his home with photos of himself with marquee Democrats. One witness testified she met President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Clinton, President Bill Clinton, Sen. John Kerry, Sen. Ted Kennedy and Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island at fundraisers she attended with him.

Prosecutors played a voicemail recording of Clinton, then a senator, effusively praising Hsu for his loyal support.

"I've never seen anybody who has been more loyal and more effective and really just having greater success supporting someone than you," she told him. "Everywhere I go, you're there. If you're not, you're sending people to be part of my events. You know, we're going to win this campaign, Norman, because you single-handedly are going to make that happen."

After Hsu's 2007 arrest, the senator returned more than $800,000 to donors whose contributions were linked to him.

The defense suggested Hsu was framed by "greedy" investors who cut non-prosecution deals with the government. His attorney argued his client's decision to plead guilty to separate securities fraud charges before the trial gave him credibility.

Hsu's trial came just days after he pleaded guilty to 10 counts of wire and mail fraud, admitting that he cheated investors of at least $20 million in a Ponzi scheme.

Sentencing was set for Aug. 19.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9...;show_article=1

[Tygrys 143]

I've heard Hillary will sent him as an ambassador somewhere...

[Ban Hammer 13,395]

where's the outrage?

[Volkswagon 0]

where's the outrage?

Damn liberals.

[justashooter 430]

typical chinese guy.

[Peikko 1,575]

What exactly is it that is 'typical' for a Chinese guy? You just love to put other nationalities in their place, don't you Shooeter?

Fraud is fraud, doesn't matter who's responsible for it. Fraudulent politicians do not neatly fall along party lines, would that life were so easy...

[justashooter 430]

What exactly is it that is 'typical' for a Chinese guy? You just love to put other nationalities in their place, don't you Shooeter?

Fraud is fraud, doesn't matter who's responsible for it. Fraudulent politicians do not neatly fall along party lines, would that life were so easy...

you obviously have not done much business with chinese. bending the rules is standard practice in china, and expected. hanging pix of yourself with important people is also standard practice. i had the pix of me and wen jai bo in my office in luoyang, and people noticed. buying favour from governemnt persons is also standard practice.

as for fraud and political party affiliation, well, there's enough empirical evidence to indicate that, statistically, democrats are more likely to engage in fraud than republicans. This is true on the large scale, and even more so, on the small scale. it's the "entitlement" mentality and avoidance of personal responsibility that enables the behaviour.

a chunky blonde white chick like you ought to know stuff like this.

[Peikko 1,575]

You never fail to exhibit your ignorance with your stereotypes, xenophobia and right wing propoganda. So, I am chunky and blond, not angry black today? Exciting.

[justashooter 430]

you're a little angrier, but white, i think.

[Peikko 1,575]

You really are good at this shooter, here have a bigger spade for all that digging.

*Caption*

Shooter digging himself into another fine mess.

This one is even better!

[almaty 19]

sister purple, at least he did not call him a chinaman

Edited May 20, 2009 by almaty

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

at least he didn't call him a yellow

ignorance is awesome...especially in this forum taking on the fact that at least the majority of us have been in contact with people from other culture, nationality or skin color

Edited May 20, 2009 by TävôLuDô

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

OMG

[Peikko 1,575]

He's allowed to say nasty things about the Chinese because he married one. Facts after all are facts.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Wog Boy used to do that.

Pretty much everything he said was about "how stupid Americans are" (never mind he married one).