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Rosen indictment

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Illinois

Here’s more on the indictment of David Rosen, who reportedly raised about a million dollars for Rod Blagojevich’s campaign fund. Rosen also worked for Lisa Madigan and Dan Hynes’ US Senate race.

The Justice Department indictment charges Rosen with causing false campaign finance reports to be filed with the FEC. Rosen reported contributions of only $400,000 from the Hollywood gala. He also is alleged to have filed a fraudulent invoice for the cost of the concert portion of the gala, reporting $200,000 when the actual cost was more than $600,000. Rosen faces up to five years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines on each of four counts of making a false statement.

The idea, apparently, was to free up more money for Clinton’s campaign.

Rosen is the second figure involved in organizing the soiree for Clinton to become entangled in legal problems as a result.

Aaron Tonken is currently in prison for his role in organizing the event â€“ a tribute to then-President Bill Clinton and starring Cher, Patti LaBelle, Sugar Ray, Toni Braxton, Melissa Etheridge, Michael Bolton, Paul Anka and Diana Ross.

Tonken has authored a tell-all book, “King of Cons: Exposing the Dirty, Rotten Secrets of the Washington Elite and Hollywood Celebrities,” on his role in the fraud.

That book looks pretty interesting. Acccording to the article, Tonkin wrote:

“Since I had only a passing acquaintance with campaign-finance law. If there was any question in my mind, I’d call David [Rosen]. The problem was, whenever I asked for advice he would invariably laugh off my concerns and say, ‘Don’t worry. Just raise as much as possible. Just keep at it.’

“Here’s an example: I came up with what I thought was a great idea to make it look as though support were coming from a lot of little donors, instead of one big one. I proposed that [Democratic donor] Cynthia [Gershman] would write a check for 40 grand, which she was willing to do, and I would run it through one of my accounts and emerge with cash and started giving it out in one-thousand- or two-thousand-dollar chunks to 20 or 30 people. They would then turn around and write personal checks of their own for the same amount, and that would be ‘their’ contribution. Sounded good to me, but when I presented it to David he laughed for about three minutes straight. When we got down to it, though, he told me to go ahead.

“I should have been suspicious when he added, ‘Just don’t tell anyone.’ Later, he would pull me aside at Spago and re-emphasize the point: I was to keep that little trick of mine quiet, ‘very quiet.’”

Expect Illinois Republicans to use this Rosen indictment soon.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jan 10, 05 @ 8:33 am

Comments

Doubt the GOPers will say much ’cause:
DeLay’s Corporate Fundraising Investigated
Money Was Directed to Texas GOP to Help State Redistricting Effort

By R. Jeffrey Smith
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, July 12, 2004; Page A01

In May 2001, Enron’s top lobbyists in Washington advised the company chairman that then-House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) was pressing for a $100,000 contribution to his political action committee, in addition to the $250,000 the company had already pledged to the Republican Party that year.

DeLay requested that the new donation come from “a combination of corporate and personal money from Enron’s executives,” with the understanding that it would be partly spent on “the redistricting effort in Texas,” said the e-mail to Kenneth L. Lay from lobbyists Rick Shapiro and Linda Robertson.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, with a reporter with WFAA in Dallas, smiled on his way to put the finishing touches on a congressional redistricting map after Texas House and Senate negotiators reached agreement on the matter. (Ralph Barrera — AP)

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The e-mail, which surfaced in a

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 10, 05 @ 3:39 pm
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Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 10, 05 @ 11:33 pm