Hsunami!!!!!!

[geek tragedy]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aVIRM6Ct5MRM&refer=us

Dec. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Former Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu, charged in September with cheating investors in a $60 million ``Ponzi'' scheme, was indicted by a federal grand jury, U.S. prosecutors said.

The 15-count indictment, unsealed today in New York, charges Hsu with wire fraud, mail fraud and violating election laws, alleging he lined up investors by promising high returns on short-term investments and used money from new victims to pay earlier recruits. He also pressured investors to contribute to political candidates he favored, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said in a statement.

Hsu failed to appear for sentencing and spent more than 15 years as a fugitive. He later became a Democratic fundraiser and contributor, giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to candidates and party committees, including U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, a Democrat from New York and U.S. presidential candidate, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group.

Hsu gave tons of money to Democrats in early primary states at the request of Hillary Clinton. So, of course, that's not as bad as the legal Hopefund.

[rinsd]

1. GT, which Democrats in early states did Hsu raise money for?

[geek tragedy]

4. Here's a link:

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/09/26/hsu_raised_big_money_for_clinton_supporters/

Last fall, as the Nevada governor's race was heating up, Clinton agreed to help raise money for Democrat Dina Titus, a prominent party leader in a state that holds a key early presidential caucus. Clinton arranged for Hsu, at the time a little-known New York apparel executive with no apparent reason to take interest in Nevada politics, to give Titus $5,000 on Nov. 3, according to a person with knowledge of Clinton's fund-raising.

And in February, when former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack ended his own White House bid, he was about $450,000 in the red. A month after dropping out, Vilsack endorsed Clinton, and Clinton agreed to help him retire his debts. (Both insisted there was no quid pro quo.)

Over the next few months, some of Clinton's biggest fund-raisers gave Vilsack checks, including Hsu, who kicked in the maximum allowable contribution, $2,300, on May 3 after attending an event organized by Clinton's campaign, Newsweek reported this month. An associate of Hsu's, Paul Su, chipped in $1,000 on the same day.

In other cases, Clinton helped direct Hsu's money to influential politicians who have yet to endorse her but hail from key presidential primary states. Clinton raised at least $6,000 from Hsu and his network last year for Governor John Lynch of New Hampshire, according to Lynch aides. Lynch has no plans to endorse anyone before the state's crucial January primary, aides said.

In New Hampshire, Senate President Sylvia Larsen's Democratic Caucus committee received $5,000 from Hsu in September 2006; Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan collected more than $20,000 from Hsu and his associates; Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas took in about $11,000; and Senator Dianne Feinstein of California received at least $17,000.

Hsu and his network also gave nearly $50,000 to Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa. Harkin has not endorsed anyone, but his wife, Ruth, is a major Clinton backer.

In addition, Hsu and his associates have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to state and local Democratic Party organizations and candidates around the country, including more than $100,000 to Governor Eliot Spitzer of New York and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo of New York, both of whom have endorsed Clinton. On Feb. 21, Hsu dipped into Chicago city politics, giving $3,500 to Alderman Danny Solis, the brother of Patti Solis Doyle, Clinton's campaign manager.

[rinsd]

5. Thank you. But if memory serves wasn't the Hsu money returned or donated to charity?

I know quite a few Democrats were going to do so. I know Hillary sent back a large sum of Hsu tainted money.

I think Obama and the Hope Fund also refunded the money Hsu gave them ;-)

[geek tragedy]

6. Yes they did.

I just find it astonishing that Clinton would throw mud on this particular topic.

[rinsd]

7. They've decided to open the mudgates.

I guess they figure that she will be able to survive a mudbath while Obama will have more trouble given his image.

[geek tragedy]

8. I hope Obama stays out of the mud.

Of course, that doesn't mean I will.

:evilgrin:

[rinsd]

9. I would expect nothing less.

:toast:

Notice how Edwards has gone back to being Mr. Sunshine?

[geek tragedy]

10. Nothing like declining poll numbers to reintroduce

the benefits of staying positive.

[cali]

2. One of my concerns about Clinton is the hx of questionable

fundraising that goes back years, but could you please provide a link that confirms that Clinton requested that Hsu donated to dems she designated?

[geek tragedy]

3. Link:

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/09/26/hsu_raised_big_money_for_clinton_supporters/