I sure wish somebody was investigating our Rep! (Taylor, R-NC)

[G_j]

Republican Charles Taylor (has also taken $3,000 from Abramoff)


Rep. Charles H. Taylor (R-NC) is an eighth-term Member of Congress, representing the 11th district of North Carolina. Rep. Taylor sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee. Rep. Taylor's ethics issues arise from his very lucrative outside business interests.

-Blue Ridge Savings Bank

One of Rep. Taylor's outside business interests is the Blue Ridge Savings and Loan, an Asheville, North Carolina bank he founded, chairs and holds a majority interest.

In 2001, Hayes C. Martin, the former president of Blue Ridge, pled guilty to bank fraud for making a series of loans to Rep. Taylor's long-time friend and supporter, Charles Cagle. According to news reports based on court testimony and an FBI interview with Mr. Martin, Rep. Taylor had extensive knowledge about, and was involved in the making of, the loans to Mr. Cagle. Mr. Martin testified that when the FBI began to investigate the Cagle loans, Rep. Taylor ordered the removal of an employee who was suspected of cooperating with federal investigators. Mr. Martin further testified that he spent a fair amount of his time "helping Charles Taylor to skirt issues with the Office of Thrift Supervision."

Despite all of the information implicating Rep. Taylor in the issuance of the fraudulent loans and money laundering, he was neither subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury, nor interviewed by the FBI or the federal prosecutors in the case. The weight of evidence suggesting that Rep. Taylor was personally involved in fraud and money laundering warrants further investigation for possible criminal prosecution.

House ethics rule prohibit Members from having fiduciary relationships with outside interests. Given the degree of ownership and control Rep. Taylor exercises over the Blue Ridge Savings Bank, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct should investigate whether this constitutes a banned fiduciary relationship in violation of House rules.

-Business Interests in Russia

Beginning in the mid-1990s, Financial Guaranty Corp., the holding company for Blue Ridge Savings and Loan, and an entity chaired and owned by Rep. Tayor, made a series of loans to Russian companies with interest rates as high as 60%. While active in pushing Congress to support a western-style home mortgage program in Russia, Rep. Taylor bought an 80% stake in a Russian bank in Ivanovo, making it the first American-owned bank in Russia. Rep. Taylor also founded a Russian investment company called Columbus, which appears to work in concert with the Commercial Bank of Ivanovo. Columbus was formed to overcome some of the restrictions of Russian banking law and expand the kind of investments Rep. Taylor could make in Russia.

House Rules prohibit Members from receiving any compensation, the receipt of which is due to their official position. By taking taxpayer-funded trips to Russia to explore and advance his personal business interests, Rep. Taylor may have violated this rule, as well as rules prohibiting conflicts of interest.

-Legislative Assistance in Exchange for Campaign Funding

Rep. Taylor has come to the aid of campaign contributor General Electric, which contributed $8,250 to his 2004 re-election. Subsequently, at the company's request, Rep. Taylor inserted language in a spending bill that would have benefitted the company by calling for further study of PCB dredging projects. If approved, General Electric could have used the bill to justify further delay in its clean-up of the Hudson River.

Members cannot receive reimbursement for the performance of an official act. If, as it appears, Rep. Taylor accepted over $8,000 from General Electric in exchange for supporting legislation that would benefit General Electric, Rep. Taylor would be in violation of 18 U.S.C. §sect;201(b)(2)(A). In addition, Rep. Taylor may also be in violation of Rule 23, clause 3 which prohibits Members from receiving compensation for the improper exercise of the Member's position in Congress. If Rep. Taylor accepted money from General Electric in exchange for supporting legislation that would aid General Electric, he likely violated Rule 23.

http://www.beyonddelay.org/summaries/taylor.php
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http://www.ncdp.org /

NCGOP and Reps. Charles Taylor and Walter Jones Received Thousands from Abramoff
Submitted by NCDP on Wed, 01/04/2006 - 11:35am. Press Releases
NC Democratic Party Chair Demands They Return Tainted Money


UPDATE: Jones and Dole rid themselves of Abramoff money; Taylor defiant and incomprehensible
--------
The Republican culture of corruption involving indicted super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff reaches all the way to North Carolina Republicans:

• The North Carolina Republican Party has taken $5,000 from Abramoff.

• Congressman Charles Taylor has taken $3,000 from Abramoff.

• Congressman Walter Jones, Jr. has taken $1,250 from Abramoff. “The North Carolina Republican Party and Congressmen Taylor and Jones should return Jack Abramoff’s tainted contributions immediately,” said North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jerry Meek. “The Republican culture of corruption in Washington is out of control and Abramoff is just the latest example. Once again, the Republicans are standing up for power and greed instead of the working people of North Carolina.”

UPDATE:

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060105/NEWS01/601050332/1001

Taylor camp doesn't say if he'll return contributions

by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
published January 5, 2006 6:00 am

RALEIGH - At least two Republican members of North Carolina's congressional delegation followed President Bush on Wednesday by shedding themselves of donations from Jack Abramoff, the Washington lobbyist who pleaded guilty to fraud and corruption charges.

But Rep. Charles Taylor, R-Brevard, did not give his donations back.

Spokesmen for Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Rep. Walter Jones said each lawmaker decided to give $1,000 to charity to match the donations their campaigns had received from Abramoff in recent years.

Taylor's campaign has received $2,250 from Abramoff since 1999, according to federal campaign finance reports. The N.C. Republican Party's Executive Committee also reported a $5,000 donation in November 1998.

"That was sent to us almost 10 years ago. It's long since gone," said Bill Peaslee, the state GOP's chief of staff, when asked whether its donation would be given up. "It happened a long time ago."

..more..

[G_j]

1. ~~

[Marie26]

2. Would be nice

It looks like he's in pretty deep w/the Republican corruption. Have you thought about writing a letter to the editor? They'd probably publish it w/all the Abramoff coverage right now.

[G_j]

4. oh yes

there are letters published from irate citizens quite often.

The problem seems to be getting authorities to pursue any sort of investigations.

I heard he was close with Ashecroft, which may account for earlier protection.

But this seems like an ideal time to smoke the guy out.

[William Bloode]

3. He's toast next time he's up for re-election.

He sold out his constituents badly on some outsourcing deal, had to do with texiles, and i don't excatly remember the deatils. But it will come back and bite him.

My rep is no better i have Cass Ballenger :(. This kook still thinks it's alright to have a black lawn jockey!

[G_j]

5. I hope so!

NC has a 'tradition' of keeping some of the most horrible folks in office (such as Jesse Helms!)

I have no idea how Taylor has remained for so long.
:shrug:

oh yea, Ballenger is atrocious, another nut-case. :puke:

[William Bloode]

6. Funny you should mention Jesse.

The very first election i ever bothered to vote in was to vote against him. I actually convinced several of my redneck friends to come vote with me. Btw, the redneck pack i organized voted for Harvey Gant. Ya know ol' Jesse won, but as always he won on a bare minimum of 1%, Jesse always eeked by with that 1%. :(

[G_j]

7. that was when

I first moved here. I remember that passions and hopes were running high.
I still see an occasional Harvey Gant bumper sticker.