Is "Democratic" Congressman Gregory W. Meeks of NY's 6th a crook?

[originalpckelly]

If you've not heard, Allen Stanford of Stanford Financial Group is accused of a mini-Madoff style fraud totalling 8.2 billion dollars.

I decided to look up, as I usually do, who this guy donated to politically, as anyone can do on the Federal Elections Comission website:
http://fec.gov/finance/disclosure/norindsea.shtml

Well, I decided to go further than Mr. Allen Stanford himself, and I decided to look up all the people who claim to work for his company. This is possible by going to the advanced individual search on the FEC's website:
http://fec.gov/finance/disclosure/advindsea.shtml

What you do to find the company is type in the company you're looking for in the "Employer/Occupation:" box. I guess the election laws require you list your employer, if you have one, on contribution forms.

I did that, and I found a whole bunch of different congressmen and women who've received money from not only Mr. Stanford but people listed as "executives" and other high staff of his company.

So I decided to take one Congressman and look into him as best I could with my limited resources, to see what I could find. Eventually I got to this report from the FEC:
http://images.nictusa.com/pdf/045/28932691045/28932691045.pdf#navpanes=0

It's a listing of people and PACs who donated to Rep. Meeks 12 days before the primary in the 6th district last year, as the report indicates on its coversheet.

If you look through the report, you will find that a lot of it is comprised of donations from people employed by Stanford Financial Group or Stanford's PAC. Most of the Stanford donations appear to take place on 25 July 2008. On the same day, a Kevin Brandt of another financial company, James River Capital, appears to have donated to Rep. Meeks, as well another unknown man Thomas Church of Argyle, Texas.

Well, I went and looked up James River Capital and Kevin Brandt. James River Capital was fined by the National Association of Securities Dealers on October 25, 2006 for fooling around with market timing:
http://registeredrep.com/news/record-markettime-fine/

Here is further information on the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASD

NASD has since become the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) as you will read in the article. At the time of the fining of James River Capital, it was the largest fine leveled against a company for what it was accused of doing, something which I don't fully understand yet, but will endeavor to as time goes on.

Anyway, I also did the same thing for Kevin Brandt of James River Capital that I did for Stanford. I looked up the company's name. Kevin Brandt has made lots of donations to lots of politicians, and appears that he donated to many of the same politicians that Mr. Stanford donated to, but with more emphasis on Republicans.

By the way, if you look at the report from Meeks campaign to the FEC, you'll find that Mr. Brandt lives in the Virgin Islands, a place not exactly known for its up and up business practices. It also begs the question: What the hell is a guy who lives in the Virgin Islands doing donating to mainland politicians? It looks weird to me, quite frankly.

What happened on 25 July 2008? Was it like a corrupt financial guy fundraiser or something? Is Kevin Brandt closely tied to Allen Stanford's fraud? Shouldn't we be suspicious of a man who's firm was fined for some weird financial crime before and lives in the Virgin Islands?


Now on to Represenative Meeks. If you finish looking through that report, you will find that he took money from Stanford's associates or Citibank big wigs. And when you look at the PACs he took donations from in that report alone, you will find a list of who's who in the financial industry.

And isn't it a bit interesting that Representative Meeks serves on the House Committee on Financial Services? It's not like they're trying to bribe him or anything with these donations, now is it?

Here's Representative Meeks Wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Meeks

He also endorsed Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá's re-election in Puerto Rico. The Govenor lost the race, and has been under investigation and was indicted on 24 counts of corruption by the FBI, though 15 were thrown out by the judge in the case, leaving 9 still against him.

Here's more on that:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An%C3%ADbal_Acevedo_Vil%C3%A1#Federal_investigations_and_indictment

I wonder if the Allen Stanford scandal isn't going to break open some kind of massive corruption in the American government? It certainly looks like something corrupt is going on with Meeks, what are we to think when a crooked Ponzi mastermind and a ton of his employees donate to a guy on the Financial Services Committee?

[FLAprogressive]

1. he's a corrupt DLC'er...no surprise there

[originalpckelly]

2. Bill Nelson of FL also received donations from Stanford and his buddies.

Isn't he really conservative too?

I'm going to look into a report that has Stanford donation to Nelson as well right this moment. I will tell you if I find anything more than just knowing he received donations from them.

[FLAprogressive]

4. Again no surprise....Bill Nelson is also DLC.

[originalpckelly]

Yes, I'm waiting for the FEC's database to generate a PDF of a contribution report as we speak.

I wonder what icky thing I'm going to find in there?

[originalpckelly]

15. Aw damn, it looks like the Nelson Reports aren't as easy to read/search...

as the Meeks reports from last year, because the Meeks reports must have been electronically submitted, whilst the Nelson reports must have been mailed! :-(

So in other words, all I've got to look through is tons of pages of grany shitty almost unreadable text.

[FLAprogressive]

20. I wouldn't be surprised if Bill's evil-er twin, Ben has shady business dealings too

[MagickMuffin]

39. I found his records for Pac Money

http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/S8FL00166


He's really on the dole.

And check out how much he takes in from the DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE:wow:

No wonder they can't help candidates out who don't have the funds, such as Rick Noriega who ran against John Cornyn. They would not send him any money even though Hillary and Bill asked them to do so. I guess the DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE likes John Cornyn:shrug:

[originalpckelly]

41. I think there may be some more frauds based upon my research.

It looks like James River Capital is somehow associated with Stanford Financial Group, and a Hedge Fund called Windward Capital, LLC is also associated. They're both out of the Virgin Islands.

[originalpckelly]

42. Jame F. Gallivan, associated with Windward Capital is also head of Bedrock Management LP...

which sounds like another Hedge Fund.

Whoever Zack Wamp (R-TN) is, he's taken tons of money from this guy.

[burythehatchet]

3. If I was in business with Republickan politicians, it sure would make sense to

throw a few thousand to Democrats as well.

[stillcool]

5. I guess you didn't get any replies...

on your other post? I'm sure everyone who took money from any crook is corrupt. Close down D.C.

[originalpckelly]

7. Nope, didn't need them...

but it would have been helpful to have DUer information from people who actually live in that district. I've often heard, "well he's a douchebag, so it makes sense" or something along those lines. I do it just to see if perhaps I'm onto something before I invest any real time into looking it up.

[Renew Deal]

6. Here's some juicy bits from TPM

What was Stanford talking to lawmakers about? An IAEC press release from (via Nexis) from the event gives a hint. It says that in his speech, Stanford "addressed the need to streamline regulatory regimes that make it difficult for investors to take advantage of all of the opportunities that exist in the region."

And that same year, Newsday reported (via Nexis) on an IAEC-sponsored trip to Jamaica that included Democratic congressman Gregory Meeks. The IAEC, said the paper, hoped to "ease Patriot Act restrictions on offshore banking," and that according to Meeks, "the trip was an effort by the Inter-American Economic Council to explain the hardships the act has imposed on Caribbean banks."

In other words, Stanford and the IAEC used these events to try to convince lawmakers not to crack down on tax loopholes that work to benefit offshore banking -- exactly the loopholes that allowed Stanford to operate his alleged multi-billion-dollar scam, free from regulatory scrutiny, for so long."

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/02/through_obscure_non-profit_stanford_wooed_lawmakers.php

[originalpckelly]

8. Oh so he got a trip to Jamaica, now did he?

HAHA! I think I smell blood in the water Congressman Meeks, you better watch out for those sharks coming after your ass!

Sounds like something Bob Ney would have done, oddly enough, Bob Ney took money from Allen Stanford too! :rofl:

Oh and thanks for the juicy tidbit, my fellow DUers, we will filter out the fuck-face anti-working-man Democrats, but only if we work together like this.

[Renew Deal]

10. How much you want to bet this stuff isn't properly reported?

I wouldn't be surprised if there are some detials left out of some House reports. Besides that, it's seems unseemly at best.

[msongs]

11. one might reasonably conclude congress is a bought and sold commodity nt

[originalpckelly]

12. It's called regulatory capture:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulatory_capture

That's a fancy two words for, rich guys buy off the people who regulate them, which I guess includes Reps in Congress.

[HillbillyBob]

45. Thanks for your effort PC! I have done a lot of research

into the crime of the ( * ) crime family and their dealings with other crime families. I had saved a lot of it to a hard drive that blew out..and is now not retrievable because the library of congress files that I had copied are now 'classified' or no longer there, and since I am not a ver good puter geek some things that I copied did not actually copy the page but only the back ground of the pages.

[Renew Deal]

9. Looks like you may be onto something with Meeks

I found these two paragraphs on some Antigua business website:

2/6/04 "The A&BJM in New York, was pleased of the outcome of deliberations between a team from its membership, and one of the congressmen, who were flown, whined and dined by investor R. Allen Stanford. President of the group Mac Emanuel, was quoted as saying that the 90 minute meeting had explored the possibility of joint business initiatives between persons from the USA and Antigua. The meeting was called, after the group had expressed concerns over the congressman's association with Stanford. But congressman Meeks had dismissed the purported seriousness of the trip. In fact, he said that the trip was business related. The meeting was not ended though, before Emanuel and his team emphasising the point that the congressman should use his office and influence for the common good of Antigua and the Caribbean."

January 18, 2004: The New York based Antigua & Barbuda Justice Movement (A&BJM) is on a congressional election rejection drive. They will be targeting two members of the US Congress, who are presently on island. The congressmen, Donald Payne of New Jersey and Gregory Meeks of New York, are guests of major investor R. Allen Stanford. The A&BJM, a group of concerned Antiguans and Barbudans living abroad, have been critical of the role of Stanford in local politics and commerce, and are of the view, that he could be using his influence locally, to somewhat violate some laws of the USA. The group have since spearheaded an exercise for the Justice Department of the United States to investigate Stanford. President of the A&BJM Mac Chesney Emanuel, have described the congressmen as selling their souls to Stanford, by accepting free flight, free food and possibly free contributions from Stanford, after at least one of them was privy to the pending actions against him, and the details that were transmitted to the Justice Department. Neither of the congressmen have responded to the claims..

http://www.worldcaribbeanlink.com/antiguapoliticsD03toF04.htm

[Enrique]

13. "whined and dined"

:rofl:

[originalpckelly]

14. Well, let's forgive them.

I do the same thing, we all do. I think it's probably something though, considering that there are political donations to back this story up.

[Renew Deal]

16. So what do we have?

We have an obnoxiously wealthy criminal investor (though not known criminal at the time) flying a congressman to the caribbean about "business." At the same time the congressman is receiving a ton of money in donations from Stanford and associates. It stinks. And like I said, I wonder if those trips are properly reported.

[originalpckelly]

18. Is there a public database of gifts to Congresspersons?

Don't they have to report that stuff? Where does it go, and can we get our hands on it?

[Enrique]

17. so what did Meeks do for Stanford

I hope someone is looking into that.

[originalpckelly]

19. Hey, you know, I could actually do that...

The Washington Post keeps a voting record of the various congresspersons, so if we look at legislation from around the time the trip took place, we might be able to see if Meeks voted against or for something that would have benefited Stanford.

[Renew Deal]

21. Crew has a top 10 list of congresspeople that have received money from Stanford or his PAC

The top 10 list of members of the 111th Congress who received contributions from the PAC and/or employees of the Stanford Financial Group since 1989 (includes contributions to both candidate committees and leadership PACs): Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) $45,900 Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) $41,375 Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) $28,150 Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) $27,500 Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) $19,700 Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) $17,000 Rep. Charlie A. Gonzalez (D-Texas) $15,500 Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.) $15,100 Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) $14,500 Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) $14,000 Source: Center for Responsive Politics

http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/37338

[originalpckelly]

22. Here is more about the money laundering part of the patriot act:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act,_Title_III

HAHA! Looks like the Republicans and DLCers fucked the guys who were bribing them on accident with this part of the act, because it really cracks down on money laundering.

[Renew Deal]

24. You can ask Meeks about this stuff directly on Sunday

http://baiganchoka.com/blog/2009/02/19/congressman-greg-meeks-meet-greet/#comment-26991

[Renew Deal]

23. Heres something else thats interesting, Meeks and Pete Sessions both have Abromoff AND Stanford ties

"Rep. Sessions also traveled to Malaysia on an Abramoff-arranged trip with indicted public relations executive Michael Scanlon, two lobbyists from Abramoff’s firm Greenberg Traurig, one of which, Tony Rudy has been indicted, and two other Members of Congress, Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Gregory Meeks (D-NY). Prior to the trip, Rep. Sessions had shown no public interest in Malaysia, but four months after the trip, Rep. Sessions became an advocate for Malaysia by forming the Malaysia Trade, Security and Economic Cooperation in the House with trip-mate Rep. Meeks."

http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/33388/print

[originalpckelly]

25. Yeah, I think this is an Abramoff like/linked scandal.

It just smacks of it with some of the same people involved in both.

[FLAprogressive]

27. no surprise to see McCain or $chumer on there

[Renew Deal]

26. "Meeks argued that passing campaign finance reform is the best way to fix the public perception that

Congress is corrupt."

http://www.blog.citizensforethics.org/node/28384

Really? No? :banghead:

[Renew Deal]

28. Meeks is one of the top "privately funded trip takers" 2000-2005

"Boehner and members of his office were among the top beneficiaries of privately funded travel, according to the study, taking more than 200 trips during the 5 1/2 -year period reviewed. Others included the offices of Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.), Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Rep. Michael G. Oxley (R-Ohio), Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.)."

http://beyonddelay.citizensforethics.org/node/22205

[originalpckelly]

29. I sent a tip into TPMmuckraker about the Kevin Brandt guy of James River Capital...

and this thread as well.

[Renew Deal]

31. Good

I'm so sick of the sleeze, and this looks sleezy

[originalpckelly]

32. I found a business phone number for the address listed for Thomas Church!

If I have it right, he's an electrician, and that certainly doesn't sound like a crooked profession. I'm going to call him tomorrow to see if I can't get him to spill the beans about this. He may have been victimized by these guys. Here's his house in Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1011+Thornridge+Court+Argyle,+Texas&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=41.139534,93.164063&ie=UTF8&ll=33.130993,-97.167013&spn=0.010656,0.022745&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr

[originalpckelly]

33. What's a man who lives in Argyle Texas attending a fundraiser in the VI...

doing donating to a Representative from New York?

What else should I ask him when I call him?

[originalpckelly]

30. I was right, it was a fundraiser! Both Stanford Financial people and Kevin Brandt...

attended a fundraiser for Meeks held in July last year:
http://www.investorvillage.com/smbd.asp?mb=14710&mn=15763&pt=msg&mid=6709161
"Gregory Meeks, a member of the House Financial Services subcommittee dealing with offshore banks, "received an estimated $17,600 from a Stanford fundraiser held in the Virgin Islands in July (2008)".From 2003 to 2006 Mr.Meeks and his wife traveled to the Caribbean every January, paid for by Stanford affiliates. Stanford private jets provided first class service to Mr. Meeks who stated, "I have a vested interest in the Caribbean...noting that he is a member of the Caribbean Caucus. The slime of this hijacked party continues to be exposed. Pro civil rights, I left it the day RFK was assassinated. They have not had a worthy candidate since that time."

Brandt is from the Virgin Islands, so that makes sense he was a part of this then. But who is the mystery guy from Texas without an employer ID? I'mn going to look him up in the FEC database to see if he hasn't given an employer ID in some other donation record.

[originalpckelly]

34. Guess where Kevin Brandt lives?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Chandler%27s+Wharf+Christiansted,+VI&sll=17.751675,-64.707303&sspn=0.048474,0.090981&g=Christiansted,+VI&ie=UTF8&ll=17.747971,-64.697864&spn=0.005814,0.011373&t=h&z=17

On a boat, seriesly what's with these crooked guys and boats? Duke Cunningham had a boat thing too.

[originalpckelly]

35. I'm following the money folks. I'm trying to link people together who donated to these pols...

on the same day, suggesting they attended a fundraiser of some type, especially if they're in the same profession. On to Windward Capital, something that may be related to Kevin Brandt and Mike Crapo (Sen, R-ID).

[originalpckelly]

36. Windward Capital is a hedgefund, and people affiliated donated almost $200,000 to pols last year.

Or at least that what I think after googling it.

[originalpckelly]

37. Actually that's only one person, William Graham, who gave that much:

http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/william-graham.asp?cycle=08

Holy shit, that's a lot of money for one guy to give to politicians in a single year wouldn't you say?

[originalpckelly]

38. Actually, I take that back, it turns out that site is shitty...

and lumps all William Grahams together. Stupid fucking worthless site!

[originalpckelly]

40. He also lives here, according to a RNC donation:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=5+Quail+Run+Drive,+Manakin+Sabot,+VA&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=41.139534,93.164063&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=16&iwloc=cent

Looks like one of those posh golf course communities. Rich douchebags and their golf.

[Renew Deal]

43. kick

:kick:

[HillbillyBob]

44. Well I ll throw in a reply..I don't know exactly who or

who is not a crook..mainly have my own opinions.
When all that Abramoff-Casino owner murder went down in Fort Lauderdale
I was in the gas station, but I did not see anything as I had gone inside to pay for my gas then heard the shots and the site was past the hedges right at the corner of SE 17th Street and Old Miami Road. When I came out the cops were just arriving.
We all heard rumors about Abramoff, Delay and locals..too bad I cannot remember anymore than this.
I have been saying for years that we have to have public campaign funding, this system of campaign bribes is so corrupt. Yet congress passes incremental (mental)
reforms is bullsh from the get go.
They will not stand up and do the right thing the dems are too spineless and want that access to big bucks and the rpigs say its frreee trade or democracy.
We know how they really feel about democracy or real representation of the people.
The only way we are going to get it to change is to all stand up and shout scream or threaten to descend on WDC en masse.

[catzies]

46. You are a most excellent DUer of the highest caliber. Well done, keep it up!

Archiving to hard drive.