Wes Cooley in the news again

[Vanje]

http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1107441161134640.xml&storylist=orlocal

Excerpt:
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A former Oregon congressman and another man defrauded investors in the St. Louis area of more than $2 million, a jury has ruled.
Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis ordered former Rep. Wester Cooley and businessman George Tannous to pay $2.2 million, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Thursday. The trial lasted eight days.

The jury on Wednesday ruled the men, along with an associate who used the named John Montgomery, defrauded investors here by telling them that online auction giant eBay.com was on the verge of buying their startup company, BidBay.com.

Plaintiffs said the men conspired to indicate eBay's interest in BidBay. In fact, federal regulators had blocked BidBay from selling its shares to the public, and there were no plans for eBay to buy the company, plantiffs attorney Francis "Bud" Pennington III said in closing statements Tuesday.
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Theres more.

[classof56]

1. Not surprised by this news, but I'd hoped to never hear Wes's name again

What a low-life. I'm embarrassed that he ever represented our great state of Oregon in Congress.

Then of course there was Bob Packwood...but won't go there!

Tired Old Cynic

[stevedeshazer]

2. Wes Cooley

One of the most bizarre stories in Oregon politics, for sure.

Another Republican who can't remember anything.

This Oregon Congressman was forced out by his own party after only two years in office because he had told a few fibs too many.

First he lied about his wedding date so his wife could keep getting veterans' benefits. As a Marine widow, she had received government checks as late as 1994, even though Wes and his wife had said they were married on a 1985 bank loan.

Then he said in a state voter guide that he had served in the Army in Korea. Wes was in the Army, all right, but he was over here in the U.S. the whole time.

Not so, said Wes. Army personnel records would prove him innocent. Unfortunately, those records were destroyed in a fire. At least that's what Wes said. Gee, the poor guy can't get a break.

For making false statements in the state voter guide, Wes was indicted and convicted in 1997. He was sentenced to two years probation and 100 hours of community service.

He blamed his troubles on the liberal media. Oh, them again. Yeah, they're probably the ones who set the fire.

Now he's had a stroke and can't remember anything in the last 15 years. I presume that means that he remembers thimgs well 16 years ago?