Get out your violins....Erik Prince whines about $2 million a month in legal bills for civil suits

[marmar]

:nopity: :nopity: :nopity:



from Vanity Fair:



....(snip)....

Those episodes, however, paled in comparison with the events of September 16, 2007, when a phalanx of Blackwater bodyguards emerged from their four-car convoy at a Baghdad intersection called Nisour Square and opened fire. When the smoke cleared, 17 Iraqi civilians lay dead. After 15 months of investigation, the Justice Department charged six with voluntary manslaughter and other offenses, insisting that the use of force was not only unjustified but unprovoked. One guard pleaded guilty and, in a trial set for February, is expected to testify against the others, all of whom maintain their innocence. The New York Times recently reported that in the wake of the shootings the company’s top executives authorized secret payments of about $1 million to Iraqi higher-ups in order to buy their silence—a claim Prince dismisses as “false,” insisting “ zero plan or discussion of bribing any officials.”

Nisour Square had disastrous repercussions for Blackwater. Its role in Iraq was curtailed, its revenue dropping 40 percent. Today, Prince claims, he is shelling out $2 million a month in legal fees to cope with a spate of civil lawsuits as well as what he calls a “giant proctological exam” by nearly a dozen federal agencies. “We used to spend money on R&D to develop better capabilities to serve the U.S. government,” says Prince. “Now we pay lawyers.”

Does he ever. In North Carolina, a federal grand jury is investigating various allegations, including the illegal transport of assault weapons and silencers to Iraq, hidden in dog-food sacks. (Blackwater denied this, but confirmed hiding weapons on pallets of dog food to protect against theft by “corrupt foreign customs agents.”) In Virginia, two ex-employees have filed affidavits claiming that Prince and Blackwater may have murdered or ordered the murder of people suspected of cooperating with U.S. authorities investigating the company—charges which Blackwater has characterized as “scandalous and baseless.” One of the men also asserted in filings that company employees ran a sex and wife-swapping ring, allegations which Blackwater has called “anonymous, unsubstantiated and offensive.” ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2010/01/blackwater-201001?currentPage=2

[robinlynne]

1. he is responsible for how many murders?

[Swamp Rat]

2. Erik Prince deserves a lot more than "a spate of civil lawsuits."

I hope Hitler is waiting for him in Hell to give him that "giant proctological exam" with a pineapple apple and hot sauce.

[marmar]

3. I don't know....that might get Erik Prince excited....Nazi kinky sex !!!!

:P

[XOKCowboy]

4. Cry Me A River Erik.

I hope the lawyers and investigations drain him and his family dry! At least till Blackwater/Xe goes out of business.

[tularetom]

5. Not bloody likely unfortunately

IIRC he is part of the family that owns (sc)Amway which I'm sure has been bankrolling his little play army venture since the start.

In addition to we taxpayers of course.

[XOKCowboy]

8. Good old Amway. One of the original big time pyramid schemes. Great Family Heritage

I knew his family was rich but forgot about the Amway connection. How completely American. Make your fortune off of the gullible and desperate and call it God's Will.

[Jazzgirl]

6. Oooohhhh no!!!!

I can go smaller!

[peace frog]

7. He's sobbing all the way to the bank

If he's getting out of the war biz, it's because he's already stolen all the treasure he can smash and grab.
Now comes the image rehabilitation: teaching school, inspiring the kiddies, etc. Blleecchh

[treestar]

9. Gee that's enough to be glad there are lawyers

Who would charge that much! :rofl:

[surrealAmerican]

10. Gee, that's too bad ...

... that $2 million a month is not enough to bankrupt this company.