Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Troubles for Hillary Clinton

Although unlikely to derail the Hillary Express to the Democratic nod, the troubles of top Clinton fundraiser Norman Hsu don't appear to end with the troubling coincidences between Hsu's fundraising efforts and the contributions of a decidedly middle class family from San Francisco. As Los Angeles Times is reporting, Norman Hsu is being sought by authorities for failing to appear to serve a three year sentence for grand theft swindling.
In just the last 36 months Hsu has been involved in raising more than $1 million for Clinton and other Democrats. Howard Wolfson, a spokesman for the Clinton campaign, confirmed today that Hsu had been a "longtime and generous supporter" of the party including Clinton. "We have no reason to call his contributions into question or to return them," Wolfson added.

Hsu has developed a specialty of bundling hefty campaign contributions from obscure citizens who live modest lives and have never before given money to campaigns. Many are not even registered to vote.

Over the years other recipients of Hsu donations have included Sens. Dianne Feinstein, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Edward Kennedy.

Hsu's lawyer confirmed today that his client was the one involved in the California case but said he did not remember pleading to a criminal case nor facing jail time.

"He is a fugitive," said Ronald Smetana of the California attorney general's office. "Do you know where he is?"
I could give the benefit of the doubt to the Clinton camp for the Paw family contributions, but I can't really give them the benefit of the doubt on this issue. Hsu is known to the campaign and they should take care to make sure their fundraisers are not fugitives.

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