From DiStaso: Gregg Staffer May Have Delivered Phonejamming Checks

Another important thing to dissect is... (4.00 / 1)

Did Joel Maiola, as a federal employee, violate the law by actively being involved in campaign fundraising activities?  Based on the quote below, an Assistant US Attorney (or a grand jury)should be looking to ask some questions to clarify some Who, What, When and Wheres of this.

Maiola said Boulanger "wanted to help out in the campaign." He said he told Boulanger the state committee "was working on get-out-the vote activities and the best way to help, if he was so inclined, was to send the money to them."

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by: Stark Blue @ Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 13:43:14 PM CST

It's a good question (0.00 / 0)

Although we found in the Furtado affair that the law is less clear cut here than one would think.

The funny thing to me is the coincidence of the two Abramoff checks equalling the amount shortly spent on the jamming by McGee. Maybe coincidence, but I can't help but feel it's a little odd.

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 14:16:17 PM CST

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The thing I find intriguing (4.00 / 1)

I'm used to out-of-court settlements being announced with no comment from either side: part of the agreement is, we pay you a settlement and you keep your mouth shut.

But the Dems have been getting shots in ever since, starting with Kathy Sullivan's observation that every GOP contributor for the next five years will know that part of his/her money is going to the Democrats.

Why wasn't there a 'keep quiet' clause??

1. The GOP couldn't afford experienced lawyers at the end
2. They were so eager to settle for so much less than their exposure that they grabed the deal ASAP
3. Twomey said, "Take it or leave it"
4. Twomey said, "$125,000 with no 'shut up' clause, $250,000 with one"

Other possibilities?

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by: elwood @ Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 21:04:22 PM CST

Possibility: (0.00 / 0)

The NHDP refused to sign a 'shut up' clause, and the NH-GOP cut their losses.

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by: Nicholas Gunn @ Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 21:10:05 PM CST

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That's my best guess (0.00 / 0)

#3 in my list.

But Semprini seemed completely caught off-guard when Twomey said he was giving the depositions to the press. #1 is a real possibility.

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by: elwood @ Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 21:13:55 PM CST

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Twomey (4.00 / 1)

Wasn't he also crucial in the legal strategy to stop intimidation of student voters?  And he was the lawyer in the case that got the ballot placement law thrown out so Republicans wouldn't always go first.  No wonder the Republican lawyers forgot to get a no comment clause - he must have had them tied up in knots!  Governor Lynch should put him on the Supreme Court if there is an opening. 

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by: Frodo @ Fri Dec 22, 2006 at 20:22:53 PM CST

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Man, I go away for a couple of days (0.00 / 0)

and DiStaso drops the first of what may be many bombs from him and TPM.

This tidbit shows pretty dramatically that the Jack's dirty casino money was being used for all kinds of nefarious purposes.  It seems to have been the GOP's petty cash drawer.

My questions:
Who directed the Native American tribes to give that amount of money to that staffer to give to the NHGOP? Clearly there is a man behind the curtain arranging all this.  Who OK'ed the $$$ for the crime?

And the bigger question for me: why is it hunky-dory for Gregg's staffers to be the delivery boys for felonies?  That's as classic an example of culture of corruption as you can get.  This is similar to Tad Furtado doing dirty tricks to help out his boss.  If Gregg doesn't come down strongly on this, and it looks like he isn't, then it becomes an open question as to how much he really knew about the phonejamming. 

The onus is now on Judd Gregg to explain why his office was used to funnel money for a crime that contributed to the victory of his colleague.  Since it was a staffer who was the carrier pigeon, the next item for him to explain is whether any of my tax money went towards facilitating a crime?

Party of fiscal responsibility, my hat!

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by: Dean Barker @ Sat Dec 23, 2006 at 18:25:21 PM CST

Exactly! (0.00 / 0)

Judd Gregg is a phoney. 

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by: Frodo @ Sat Dec 23, 2006 at 22:59:44 PM CST

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