Report: Clinton administration quashed fraud case against Cisneros

[zendari]

Text

WASHINGTON _ A special prosecutor's long-delayed report charges that a coverup at senior levels of the Clinton administration killed a tax fraud case against former Cabinet member Henry Cisneros, the New York Daily News has learned.

David Barrett's 11-year, $23 million probe, which will be released Thursday, states in stinging terms that the Clinton coverup succeeded.

Cisneros was forced to admit in 1999 that he had made secret payments to a mistress before serving as Clinton's secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Barrett went on to investigate tax fraud charges stemming from those under-the-table payments.

Then-IRS Commissioner Peggy Richardson, a close friend of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., was involved in efforts to quash the probe, a source close to the case alleged.

But Richardson's role was cut from Barrett's report, which went through 26 drafts, because Democratic law firm Williams & Connolly successfully pressured Barrett to remove a section of the report naming her, a source said.

The law firm represents Cisneros, former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.

A Williams & Connolly attorney declined to comment.

Before Cisneros' 1999 guilty plea, Barrett's office began a second phase based in part on allegations in a 1997 memo to IRS headquarters by whistleblower John Filan, an IRS criminal investigations chief in Texas.

In a memo obtained by the Daily News, Filan accused top Clinton officials, including senior IRS lawyer Barry Finkelstein, of covering up Cisneros' tax fraud case by transferring it to two inexperienced lawyers in Washington.

Filan wrote that the two got orders "to kill the case from Barry Finkelstein at the outset."

Reached Tuesday night, Finkelstein declined to comment.

One of Cisneros' then-defense attorneys, Cono Namorato _ who is now chief of IRS internal affairs _ referred a reporter to Barrett's report.


Hmm, I wonder what sort of coercive tactics former President Clinton used to have the Daily News sit on this story all these years, even well beyond the date he left office?

 

[Genx87]

He didnt need any coercive action, the media loved him.

 

[RightIsWrong]

Zen, you are a complete idiot and need to take a reading comprehension class.

Do you see a single statement anywhere in there that states that the NYDN "sat" on this story for years or even days?

Hint.....If I publish a story in a paper today about George Washington, that doesn't mean that he coerced me to not report it all of the years between when it occurred and the date of publishing.

 

[thraashman]

David Barrett's 11-year, $23 million probe, which will be released Thursday, states in stinging terms that the Clinton coverup succeeded

The fact that he spent that much money on this investigation pisses me off more than anything else. Seriously, why was so much money spent at different times to investigate Clinton. He was a bad person, but an excellent president! There's been many times in history where good people were fairly crappy presidents. And of course the current situation of one of the worst living human beings being the worst president in history.

 

[OrByte]

I thought the same thing too, $23 million dollars all for nothing. I wish I had $23 million dollars to waste.

:evil:

so now what? are we going to impeach Clinton all over again?? this is dumb.

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Zen, you are a complete idiot and need to take a reading comprehension class.

Do you see a single statement anywhere in there that states that the NYDN "sat" on this story for years or even days?

Hint.....If I publish a story in a paper today about George Washington, that doesn't mean that he coerced me to not report it all of the years between when it occurred and the date of publishing.

Why was the report "long delayed"?

But I'm not surprised the lefties here are giving Clinton and his goons a free pass.

 

[OrByte]

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Zen, you are a complete idiot and need to take a reading comprehension class.

Do you see a single statement anywhere in there that states that the NYDN "sat" on this story for years or even days?

Hint.....If I publish a story in a paper today about George Washington, that doesn't mean that he coerced me to not report it all of the years between when it occurred and the date of publishing.

Why was the report "long delayed"?

But I'm not surprised the lefties here are giving Clinton and his goons a free pass.

why is this an issue for you? are you going to rewrite history and claim that Clinton was a "bad man?" if thats the case you are late, I am sure people are already hard at work on that.

non issue.

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: OrByte

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Zen, you are a complete idiot and need to take a reading comprehension class.

Do you see a single statement anywhere in there that states that the NYDN "sat" on this story for years or even days?

Hint.....If I publish a story in a paper today about George Washington, that doesn't mean that he coerced me to not report it all of the years between when it occurred and the date of publishing.

Why was the report "long delayed"?

But I'm not surprised the lefties here are giving Clinton and his goons a free pass.

why is this an issue for you? are you going to rewrite history and claim that Clinton was a "bad man?" if thats the case you are late, I am sure people are already hard at work on that.

non issue.

You don't consider corruption in government an issue?

 

[OrByte]

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: OrByte

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Zen, you are a complete idiot and need to take a reading comprehension class.

Do you see a single statement anywhere in there that states that the NYDN "sat" on this story for years or even days?

Hint.....If I publish a story in a paper today about George Washington, that doesn't mean that he coerced me to not report it all of the years between when it occurred and the date of publishing.

Why was the report "long delayed"?

But I'm not surprised the lefties here are giving Clinton and his goons a free pass.

why is this an issue for you? are you going to rewrite history and claim that Clinton was a "bad man?" if thats the case you are late, I am sure people are already hard at work on that.

non issue.

You don't consider corruption in government an issue?

Do you think a little article on some insignificant website is grounds for calling the Clinton administration corrupt?

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: OrByte

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: OrByte

Originally posted by: zendari
Why was the report "long delayed"?

But I'm not surprised the lefties here are giving Clinton and his goons a free pass.

why is this an issue for you? are you going to rewrite history and claim that Clinton was a "bad man?" if thats the case you are late, I am sure people are already hard at work on that.

non issue.

You don't consider corruption in government an issue?

Do you think a little article on some insignificant website is grounds for calling the Clinton administration corrupt?

That is the purpose of this discussion. Do you consider the actions of Cisneros acceptable?

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Zen, you are a complete idiot and need to take a reading comprehension class.

QFT!

For now, all that exists is accusations, not even an indictment so your title is extremely misleading. However, assuming the allegations are true, I hope those involved are nailed for their offenses to the full extent provided by law.

Now that you know I don't approve of corruption in any administration:

• Do you agree that corruption in the Bush administration should be prosecuted just as vigorously, or do you intend to continue posting your garbage defenses of the traitorous Bushwhackos for starting an illegal war based on lies, illegally spying on U.S. citizens without warrants and outing a covert CIA operative crooks?
  
• Do you have a clue how much more dangerous the Bush administration's offenses are to all Americans, and in fact, to the entire world, because they have already cost the lives of thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of other innocent people?
  
• Do you recognize that the offenses by the Bush administration are a more immediate threat to all Americans than an old coverup to protect a Clinton crony, because they are continuing to kill people, right now?
  
• Do you intend to continue posting to support corrupt criminals like Tom DeLay, Bill Frist and any others found to be involved in the wholesale corruption of Congress?

I believe, if they're guilty, fry 'em, regardless of party affiliation or political philosolpy. Are you willing to stand up and be counted in favor of right and justice over dictatorial power grabbing, greed and corruption, regardless of whose goose is cooked?

If not, you're a hypocritical shill, and anything you have to say is meaningless. :roll:

 

[OrByte]

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: OrByte

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: OrByte

Originally posted by: zendari
Why was the report "long delayed"?

But I'm not surprised the lefties here are giving Clinton and his goons a free pass.

why is this an issue for you? are you going to rewrite history and claim that Clinton was a "bad man?" if thats the case you are late, I am sure people are already hard at work on that.

non issue.

You don't consider corruption in government an issue?

Do you think a little article on some insignificant website is grounds for calling the Clinton administration corrupt?

That is the purpose of this discussion. Do you consider the actions of Cisneros acceptable?

wow, you didnt answer my question. Figures.

allow me to answer your question. Yes I think government corruption is an issue. As soon as you show me that this is government corruption then it will be an issue, until then you are barking up the wrong tree by worrying about an administration that is no longer in power. If you want to make government corruption an issue, you would be doing yourself a favor by taking a look at what the current administration is doing, there are plenty of examples in the works for you to analyze...that is, if you can.

 

[kage69]

Just more GOP supplied clutter to keep the masses chattering about irrelevent bs instead of real issues, and zentroll does exactly what I forecasted and lends a hand, oblivious to the neutered, ethics-free hack that everyone now sees him as. Just sad.

If not, you're a hypocritical shill, and anything you have to say is meaningless.

This thread itself is proof of that - still no sign of him in the 'No Leadership Race' thread I see. Pathetic.

wow, you didnt answer my question. Figures.

LOL, surprised? Don't expect great plays from cheerleaders...

 

[Uhtrinity]

Reread my sig for Zendaris true feelings. As far as the article, if true all involved should be prosecuted.

It's funny how Zen is beating the wardrums on the same kind of coverups that Delay and the Bush Admin (Plame case) are being accused of, but of course they are innocent, and Clinton is guilty. Partisan politics at it's best.


I can imagine similar headlines a few years from now:

WASHINGTON _ A special prosecutor's long-delayed report charges that a coverup at senior levels of the Bush administration delayed the Valerie Plame case against former Cabinet members Karl Rove, Scooter Libby, and Vice President Dick Cheney, the New York Daily News has learned.

 

[Corn]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Zen, you are a complete idiot.............

Hmmmm, I thought personal attacks were not tolerated here.


Be that as it may, Zenardi's commentary regarding the NYDN appears to be without merit as has been pointed out by RIW.

 

[BlancoNino]

"I am not a crook!"

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: OrByte

Originally posted by: zendari
That is the purpose of this discussion. Do you consider the actions of Cisneros acceptable?

wow, you didnt answer my question. Figures.

allow me to answer your question. Yes I think government corruption is an issue. As soon as you show me that this is government corruption then it will be an issue, until then you are barking up the wrong tree by worrying about an administration that is no longer in power. If you want to make government corruption an issue, you would be doing yourself a favor by taking a look at what the current administration is doing, there are plenty of examples in the works for you to analyze...that is, if you can.

As for your question, I feel it merits investigation. Considering his wife still occupies a seat in Congress it's quite relevant today.

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: zendari
As for your question, I feel it merits investigation. Considering his wife still occupies a seat in Congress it's quite relevant today.

As for the questions by me and others, I see you still haven't bothered to answer:

• Do you agree that corruption in the Bush administration should be prosecuted just as vigorously, or do you intend to continue posting your garbage defenses of the traitorous Bushwhackos for starting an illegal war based on lies, illegally spying on U.S. citizens without warrants and outing a covert CIA operative crooks?
  
• Do you have a clue how much more dangerous the Bush administration's offenses are to all Americans, and in fact, to the entire world, because they have already cost the lives of thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of other innocent people?
  
• Do you recognize that the offenses by the Bush administration are a more immediate threat to all Americans than an old coverup to protect a Clinton crony, because they are continuing to kill people, right now?
  
• Do you intend to continue posting to support corrupt criminals like Tom DeLay, Bill Frist and any others found to be involved in the wholesale corruption of Congress?

I believe, if they're guilty, fry 'em, regardless of party affiliation or political philosolpy. Are you willing to stand up and be counted in favor of right and justice over dictatorial power grabbing, greed and corruption, regardless of whose goose is cooked?

If not, you're a hypocritical shill, and anything you have to say is meaningless. :roll:

 

[OrByte]

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: OrByte

Originally posted by: zendari
That is the purpose of this discussion. Do you consider the actions of Cisneros acceptable?

wow, you didnt answer my question. Figures.

allow me to answer your question. Yes I think government corruption is an issue. As soon as you show me that this is government corruption then it will be an issue, until then you are barking up the wrong tree by worrying about an administration that is no longer in power. If you want to make government corruption an issue, you would be doing yourself a favor by taking a look at what the current administration is doing, there are plenty of examples in the works for you to analyze...that is, if you can.

As for your question, I feel it merits investigation. Considering his wife still occupies a seat in Congress it's quite relevant today.

Glad to see that you read the article, didn't take it at face value, and are willing to do the necessary THINKING required to formulate an opinion based on more than one news source.

that is what you are willing do to right?

SO basically this article is meaningless other than to state that the Clinton administration may have been involved in some hijinks...but....well we already knew that.

right?

and Clinton had been impeached by congress for his mistakes already. right?

so the logical end of this train of thought is, even though Clinton had been involved in hijinks, and that his administration did some things, he was brought up on whatever charges an independant investigator thought would stick, and every partisan hack had their chance to throw whatever rotten tomatoes they wanted to at Clinton while he was in office. Now, imho, new allegations over things that may or may not have taken place during the Clinton administration either is sour grapes, or diversionary tactics on the part of partisan persons in politics. Because if you use your analytical skills you could MAYBE come up with the conclusion that if this was any type of smoking gun, then it would have come out when it was most detrimental to a sitting president (Clinton) and not 11 years after the fact. Come on! what type of investigation, of this stature, takes 11 years to complete??

ok I said enough about this.

 

[mylok]

what a shameful act, whoever leaked the info to David Barrett needs to be investigated hey its good for the goose so...

but really if anyone (on the right or left) broke the law they need to be prosecuted.

 

[RightIsWrong]

I just re-read the article and there are quite a few items in it that are completely bs reporting:

1. The offense happened before he worked for Clinton
2. The "High-ranking" official is only ALLEDGED to have been involved by a source close to the case
3. Said "High-ranking" official isn't listed in the report
4. The "Democratic law firm Williams & Connolly" have been paid by the GOP to represent one of Bush's "high-ranking officials" and are defending GOP voter conspiracy (so you don't have to Google )
5. The fact that the firm represents B & H doesn't, in any way, mean that they had any knowledge of the ALLEDGED coverup. Guilt by association means that Bush and Cheney definitively knew Libby and Rove were leaking classified info and they should be charged too, right Zen?
6. One of the defense attorneys for the person at the heart of this is now a "high-ranking official" in the Bush administration

I guess we will just have to wait for the report tomorrow to see what kind of "smoking gun" Barrett has supposedly come up with and what, if any at all, conclusions that this report draws to influence/pressure being exerted by Clinton.

Of course, none of these little tidbits will get mentioned by the RW Media talking heads while they try to rile up their base and it gets posted all over Freeper-ville and ATP&N by the likes of Zen.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: Genx87
He didnt need any coercive action, the media loved him.

Not only that, Janet Reno was at the helm. With the most corrupt AG in history sitting there, none of the Clinton cronies had anything to worry about. She squashed just about every single investigation.

 

[jimkyser]

So Zendari, are you going to post a link about George H. W. Bush quashing the investigation into his son, Neil's involvement in the mismanagement and failure of Silverado Savings and Loan? That cost the taxpayers millions of dollars to cover the losses but the investigation was cut short because GHWB said it had no merit and for no other reason. Remember the son and brother of the two involved is currently the president, seems just as important as sonething involving Bill Clinton relative to Hillary.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: jimkyser
So Zendari, are you going to post a link about George H. W. Bush quashing the investigation into his son, Neil's involvement in the mismanagement and failure of Silverado Savings and Loan? That cost the taxpayers millions of dollars to cover the losses but the investigation was cut short because GHWB said it had no merit and for no other reason. Remember the son and brother of the two involved is currently the president, seems just as important as sonething involving Bill Clinton relative to Hillary.

Two wrongs make a right?

 

[Polish3d]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Zen, you are a complete idiot and need to take a reading comprehension class.

Don't people typically get vacations for personal insults?