Giuliani Defends Firm's Work for CitgoBy BRENDAN FARRINGTON
The Associated Press
Sunday, March 18, 2007; 6:27 PM
TAMPA, Fla. -- Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani on Sunday
defended his law firm's role in representing Citgo Petroleum Corp., which is
ultimately controlled by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, saying it was
helping protect American jobs.
Giuliani acknowledged though, that his opponents will try to exploit the
news that a lawyer with Bracewell & Giuliani of Houston has been
representing Citgo before the Texas legislature.
-snip-"Oh, they'll exploit everything," Giuliani said in an interview. "There are
things that make sense and things that don't make sense and that
doesn't make any sense. It was one of those political attacks where
you have nothing to do with it, you're not involved in it and so it doesn't
really worry you very much. What they're doing is lawful and honorable
and helping to protect jobs for more than 100,000 Americans."
-snip-He called Chavez dangerous and said the United States needs to use
concerns about him to build relations with Latin American countries.
-snip-