A Chinagate/Clinton crony returns
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has no idea how Chinagate scandal figure and old family friend James Riady found his way back into the country this year.
No idea whatsoever, according to the Washington Post:
In March 2004, James Riady, an Indonesian tycoon and devout Christian, received an honorary doctorate from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas. The university — which has a scholarship program funded by the Indonesian — didn’t announce the honor. Nor did Riady pick up the diploma in person: He’d been barred from America after pleading guilty in 2001 to a “conspiracy to defraud the United States” through illegal contributions to the campaigns of Bill Clinton and other Democrats.
Last year, however, the Indonesian mogul finally made it to Arkansas. He traveled there during the first of two previously unreported trips he made in 2009 to the United States. He was allowed in only after receiving a waiver from a rule that forbids entry to foreigners guilty of “a crime involving moral turpitude,” a term that government lawyers generally interpret to include fraud.
Riady’s return to the United States poses a prickly question for Hillary Clinton’s State Department: How and why did a foreign billionaire stained by Clinton-era scandals get a U.S. visa after being kept out for so long under the Bush administration?
Oh, and that $20,000 Riady donated to Bill Clinton’s philanthropic foundation? Nah, no appearance of a quid pro quo there. None whatsoever:
Riady, 52, declined to be interviewed but, in an e-mailed response to written questions, he said the teachings of Christ “inform all that I do.” He said he hadn’t seen the Clintons during his 2009 trips to America but did pay $20,000 to become a member of the Clinton Global Initiative, an annual gathering of prominent figures in politics, business and philanthropy sponsored by Bill Clinton.
A senior State Department official said Hillary Clinton had no knowledge of the decision to let Riady enter the United States. The tycoon’s visa, he said, was issued by the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta after the Indonesian asked to travel to America so that he could attend family graduation ceremonies. Riady, added the official, was granted entry for a “very narrow purpose.”
I know, I know. It’s silly to even entertain the idea that something untoward went on here.
I mean, it’s not like Hillary’s ever intervened before on behalf of her hubby’s donors.
Oh, wait…oops…
Secretary of State appointee Hillary Rodham Clinton intervened at least six times in government issues directly affecting companies and others that later contributed to her husband’s foundation, an Associated Press review of her official correspondence found.
The overlap of names on former President Bill Clinton’s foundation donor list and business interests whose issues she championed raises new questions about potential ethics conflicts between her official actions and her husband’s fundraising. The AP obtained three of the senator’s government letters under the Freedom of Information Act.
Much more documented in Culture of Corruption.
Fun fact: DHS signed off on Riady’s entry, too.
You know what that means: The system’s working!
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Forget Denmark. Something is rotten here in the good old USA and the smell is emanating from Washington DC.
Her office is staffed by well trained lackeys who know what is desired. Hillary’s personal intervention not required.
Riady and the Clintons are the very embodiment of “go-and-sin-no-more,” utterly devout Christians.
These people are disgusting.
It never ends…
The word ‘intervened’ is fairly strong, especially without going into detail about exactly what the intervention was about. This is leading people to the Kool-Aid where copious quantities will be consumed without knowing what is in it. Imaginations will almost definitely swirl.
Is it silly to suggest Sec Clinton intervened in regards to Riady? Based on the details provided, maybe.
Can any conclusions be reached based on the other three interventions? No. Not without more details.
Reveal details about the three leters and reveal the amounts of money given to the Global Initiative, dates, times, etc.
Otherwise it throwing mud and seeing what sticks.
Is it mud slinging? Maybe, but you do have to at least look at the judgement of people involved. He pled guilty to
Now, I don’t know what the original charges were, but they certainly were not limited to conspiracy to defraud. And why would
want someone who had pled guilty of this crime associated with them?
They can’t really claim ignorance, it was directly related to Clinton’s campaign and received enough attention that they should know about it.
It is hard not to speculate when someone received preferential treatment from an agency under Hillary’s control who then turns around and gives Bill $20K. Will we ever find out the full truth? I very seriously doubt it. As part of my education in Accounting I was trained to not only “avoid any conflicts of inteterest in performing my duties”, but also to “avoid any apperance of a possible conflict of interest or possible impropriety in the performance of my duties.” Because as an accountant, my reputation is my greatest asset and can never be regained once lost or compromised.
Why would an political appointee do anything less? Do their actions, as well as the actions of their people, not reflect on the administration that appointed them?
Of course I lost all hope of honesty and integrity in politics when I learned of the “Ethics Consultants” hired for insane fees to make politicians appear ethical.
The tens of millions of dollars foreigners and foreign governments have paid into the Clinton Library, Initiative Fund and such should give those people and governments extra access to power shouldn’t it? They were hoping for a President Hillary but a Secretary of State isn’t all that bad.
And soon those same foreigners and foreign governments can start making their contributions to the Obama and Mama Funds. Our government may be run by whores but they are not cheap whores.
Please don’t bother responding to Ms./Mr. Unbelievably Wordy, unless you want to precipitate, and inflict upon the rest of us, an endless cascade of empty paragraphs.
I’m begging you, please don’t encourage her/him.
No accountability, no responsibility, no repercussions, no grand juries, no prosecutions, no justice. Democrat politics and government: a growth industry like no other. Just don’t bother them while they’re counting their money.
Well said.
Just fixed a little bit for ya.
An interesting Riady blast from the past:
The Riadys were also favored by the Clintons in promoting their wealth in coal mining by turning a major ‘clean coal’ source in Utah into a National Monument where mining would never be allowed. The major alternative source for comparable coal was owned by the Riadys in Indonesia.
It’s also interesting to note that The State ofUtah was not consulted in this matter.
http://educationforum.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=12112
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/1/31/185632.shtml
AKA:
If you must feed the trolls feed them to the alligators
I’d like to post a comment, but my imagination is swirling. Goo-goo-ga-joob.
Democrats and their cronies always recycle themselves. The only time one is really eliminated is by death, but even that doesn’t stop their voting rights.
No biggie, Hill is just following her boss’s example.
Agreed.
Forget the donkey. Their “mascot” should be Freddie Krueger.
Do you think the article that referenced the three letters should provide the details of what is in those letters? Yes, or no? Are you going to drink the Kool Aid without knowing what is in it? Yes, or no?
Hi z, being contrarian as usual I see. It’s been a long known fact that no mudslinging is neccessary when it comes to the Clintons, for they bring their own mud. After all the years of Clinton shenanigans, you’re just being obtuse, to the point that lgm would be considered a sentient being in comparison.
Rules and laws apply to us peasants and not to the elected “elites”.
Ahhh, the words “devout Christian” and “conspiracy to defruad” do not go together. Unless Riady has publically confessed and repented (because his sin was against the public), Quachita Baptist should be embarassed.
After finding 900 FBI files in the White House under her appointee’s control and after seeing her Whitewater files magically appear in the White House the day after the statute of limitations expires, etc. , etc., etc., I can pretty much skip that exercise.
Leopards do not change their spots, Z.
Defending the Clintons, shows you the extent of the troll’s mad fielty.
Riady is okay, but Joan Rivers not?
“Fraud” is such a “tinny” word. Riady prefers a more “woody” expression like donations “informed by the teachings of Christ”. I won’t even try to guess what new euphemism our Secretary of Homeland Euphemisms will come up with.
Once a weasel always a weasel, even if the weasel has had a life-changing conversion. Then its a converted weasel. Sort of.
A terrorist, a thief or Joan Rivers? Good for Continental Airlines. US Airways at Logan Airport had SplashLaRue Kennedy on a watch list. Hey, maybe this is working!
AN, Joan Rivers, the comedian. I guess this could be a word of warning to Phyllis Diller to watch out. Good thing John Wayne isn’t around. He would be on everyone’s watch list, with this government.
The fact that Joan Rivers was picked over Jesse James on the “Apprentice” is reason enough for me to have her banned everywhere! Donald Trump is an idiot! Rich idiot, but still an idiot!
Hi Cheddar, I am hardly being contrarian or obtuse, and nothing has changed about your approach of attacking the messenger and not addressing the message.
I have asked questions. I would like more details before I convict someone. Yep, the Clinton’s have their sordid past, though I prefer to see the current evidence, and not rely on past transgressions to heap more mud on the Clintons.
Absolutely, investigate what is being done (or was done) and determine if there is linkage to the Global Iniative and the activities of then Sen Clinton.
Is it too much to ask for details?
If the State Dept can be advised by the father of a terrorist that his son is a terrorist and not revoke said terrorists visa, and DHS can allow said terrorist fly on one of our airplanes with a bomb in his undies, surely a former Clinton fraudster can get in OK.
But a washed up comediene with more plastic in her face than a barbie doll? We can’t allow that in, now can we?
Wow. Interesting timing. I just finished reading “High Crimes and Misdemeanors” by Ann Coulter this past weekend. I couldn’t help but think the entire time about what is going on now and all of the similarities. Nothing involving the Clintons is ever good for our Country.
Yep, there is a history to the Clintons. Does that make them guilty of anything in this case? Nope. It only means that further inquiry is necessary. Go for it. I would like to know what is in the letters. Is that too much to ask?
When the septic tank is being emptied, is it really necessary to count the turds?
zz, you speak of the clintons as if they never had any ethical problems or didn’t ever have their hands in the cookie jar. the 8 years of bill’s admin was an endless parade of graft, corruption and petty shananigans ending with destroying the computers, stealing the china on af1, and glueing doors shut in the wh. in between bill lost his law license, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, was saved from corruption charges by a dizzy broad who spent over a year in jail rather than talk about the sleazy deal she was in with the clintons, not to mention the travel department. just like the obamas, the clintons enter politics without a pot to p**s in, and leave with millions and every crook in the world giving them money to “influence” the system, like get a known criminal into and out of the u.s. without arrest.
Please.
Hillary is a corrupt, self-serving bureaucrat that would bend or break any rule she could to reap gains for herself, her husband and her pals.
Save all the….
“We really don’t KNOW what transpired…” crap.
She is a proven liar. She can’t be trusted. She gets no “benefit of a doubt”.
***
When will the most ethical Hillary Clinton return the White House Silver Service they STOLE from the place when they left?
***
And CHEAPSEAT–#35–Please stop referring to Bill Clinton and “hands in the COOKIEJAR”–Monica doesn’t think this is politically helpful!
***
John Bibb
***
LOL. Not the same thing. There are supposed to be turds there.
What is known is that there are three septic tanks. What thing is in there that should not be in there?
I know, another question that will not be addressed.
Nope. Re-read my comments. Posts #30 and #33. I have acknowledged their transgressions.
And, what have you revealed about the three letters the AP has? And, you taking a tangent in bringing up the Obamas, well that is a topic for another thread. We can discuss ODS another time.
Once its in the septic tank, its all bad. Although I do admit I did entertain Coulter’s advice to vote for Hillary – for one amusing minute.
ZZzzz,
You would no doubt be very popular on parole boards. “I know he has never led an honest day in his life but maybe this time….” You are part of the problem.
If by three septic tanks you’re referring to Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea, well I guess we’re on the same page after all.
Parole board? Nope. No one has been found guilty or convicted by what is in the three letters. No one has served time for what is in the letters.
But, you would want me on the jury because I would not convict without evidence. I would not convict based on past behaviour.
However, I would convict based on facts and knowing what is in the letters. Would you want me on your jury were you facing charges, or some of the other bloggers here who would not care to see what is in the letters?
Yep, another question that will not be addressed.
Nope, but if you are a security officer you would pull her clearance in a heartbeat.
These are not people off the street. These are people in positions of huge responsibility. In order to gain this responsibility, they must be willing to hold themselves to a MUCH HIGHER STANDARD and we should be allowed to demand that of them.
So anyone in her position given her past should be viewed as likely guilty until cleared. Darn straight.
Sunday morning saints, Monday morning sinners.
The question is who signed the waiver.
Whom ever signed it should be prosecuted for aiding and abetting a known felon.
Throw away the key and send them to prison.
Sorry, I don’t really see the relevance of the letters, and while it would have been nice for the article to include them, however if they are not released for publication that may not have been possible.
The questions, as I see them, are:
Did the Secretery of State exert any influence in this and was it impropper,
and did Bill’s foundation show poor judgement in accepting money and membership from a known criminal guilty (in my opinion if not fact) of attempting to corrupt the political process.
I don’t see where the letters have any relevance, the prosecutors letter was issued as part of a plea bargin and has no bearing on the definition of “a crime involving moral turpitude” used by the goverment in denying entry to the US.
When the events we know about are considered with the FACTS in the Clinton’s history, it is hard not to speculate that there may be something impropper or illegal happening, which should be investigated. Because of the appearance of wrong doing I would think Hillary would welcome the investigation to remove any doubt, but I certainly don’t expect it to happen. I am a realist, not a dreamer, at least when it comes to politics. Sorry, no Kool-Aid here….