Ex-Head of F.D.A. Faces Criminal Inquiry

[Roland99]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/29/washington/29fda.html?ex=1303963200&en=1c06cfc9730ae955&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

WASHINGTON, April 28 — Dr. Lester M. Crawford, the former commissioner of food and drugs, is under criminal investigation by a federal grand jury over accusations of financial improprieties and false statements to Congress, his lawyer said Friday.

The lawyer, Barbara Van Gelder, would not discuss the accusations further. In a court hearing held by telephone on Thursday, she told a federal magistrate that she would instruct Dr. Crawford to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against compelled self-incrimination if ordered to answer questions this week about his actions as head of the Food and Drug Administration, according to a transcript of the hearing.

...


...financial disclosure forms released by the Department of Health and Human Services showed that in 2004 either Dr. Crawford or his wife, Catherine, had sold shares in companies regulated by the agency when he was its deputy commissioner and acting commissioner. He has since joined a Washington lobbying firm, Policy Directions Inc.

...

Before Dr. Crawford's confirmation, the secretary of health and human services, Michael O. Leavitt, promised that the F.D.A. would act on the Plan B application by September 2005, a promise that led two Democratic senators, Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Patty Murray of Washington, to relent in their efforts to delay the nomination. But after he was confirmed, Dr. Crawford announced an indefinite delay that has remained in effect.

I'm sure a House panel will determine there was nothing wrong.

[NYC]

1. That's very interesting.

Thanks for posting. I hadn't heard about this. I hope it stays in the news.

[rodeodance]

2. I had read that the Senators were mighty upset about his going back

on this word. I, too hope it sticks.

[Hekate]

3. Republican culture of corruption strikes again

These holier-than-thou Repubs have absolutely no compunction about lying -- or anything else -- if it serves their ends. Crawford participated in the lie about Plan B in order to get confirmation to the FDA, then reneged on it without a qualm.

Criminal inquiry? Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Hekate

[Danascot]

10. That's nothing

compared to the outrages Sam Alito will visit on us once he hits his stride. He pretended to be a reasonable persion during his hearings too.

[kysrsoze]

12. You're right. Johnson doesn't scare me. Alito scares the f*ck out of me

[evermind]

4. How long will it be before

some form of political career profiling is used by the police, so that a successful career involving participation with, or appointment by, high ranking Republicans will warrant more police attention and more frequent spot checks?

Wouldn't that be a huge boost in the police's efficiency and represent big savings in public money?

The sooner the better, I say!

[Ian David]

5. His Wikipedia page could use updating...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_Crawford#Biography

[Roland99]

7. heh...looks like someone did it

:)

[TacticalPeek]

6. K & R

:kick:

[kestrel91316]

8. Isn't he the veterinarian? Who was in the position only a year?

I am so embarrassed to be a fellow vet if that's the case. If there is a serious crime, and he is convicted, we will get poetic justice in that he will LOSE HIS VETERINARY LICENSE. Serves him right.

Just another crooked Republican, AFAIC.

[hlthe2b]

9. Yes, but he was deputy head of FDA for a long time before that...

I had him as a pharmacology professor many years ago....He had that personality that underscores those who plan to move up the food chain. Compared to the greasy crew that surrounds Bush*, I'm not sure I would have predicted this, although I can't say I followed his career closely.

[wiley]

13. and the acting commish

The FDA is now an arm of the pharmaceutical industry and insane fundamentalist Christians.

CORRUPT REPUBLICANS!

[tabasco]

11. MORE Bush corruption !

Un-friggin'- believable ! :mad: