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Another Clinton Donor in Trouble?

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September 19, 2007 3:30 PM

ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: As Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton copes with the fallout of a major fundraiser who's facing a range of criminal charges, an ongoing federal trial is shedding light on another Clinton donor with a questionable past.

Oscar Wyatt, who is on trial for fraud, conspiracy, and other charges related to Saddam Hussein's abuse of the UN's oil-for-food program, has given widely to candidates of both political parties. He and his wife gave nearly $5,000 to Clinton for her two Senate campaigns in New York.

The Website Politico reported Wednesday that, unlike presidential candidates including Sen. Joe Biden, Sen. John McCain, and Gov. Bill Richardson, the Clinton campaign will not commit to returning money donated by Wyatt. Wyatt, 83, made a fortune in the oil business, and now faces up to 74 years in prison for allegedly making illegal payments to the Saddam government to receive oil contracts.

Information that has emerged in federal courtrooms suggests a close a relationship between Wyatt and former President Bill Clinton. In a separate trial of an oil-for-food defendant last year, "prosecutors presented documents that suggested the Iraqis viewed Wyatt as their conduit to the White House after Bill Clinton became president in 1993," the Houston Chronicle reported earlier this month.

Wyatt has been said to have discussed Iraq with Clinton at the White House. And in Wyatt's trial, prosecutors introduced into evidence a letter sent by President Clinton to Wyatt, asking him to "keep those ideas coming, Oscar," the Chronicle reported last week.

The Clinton campaign declined to comment to ABC News on Wednesday. Wyatt has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys have portrayed his contacts with the Iraqi government as the actions of a patriotic American citizen.

Last month, the Clinton campaign announced that it would refund some $850,000 in donations brought to the campaign by Norman Hsu, who was considered a fugitive in California for failing to show up for a court appearance after being convicted on grand theft charges. The scandal has had particular political resonance because of memories of the various fund-raising scandals that marked President Clinton's White House tenure.

September 19, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (11)

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Wow, where is the media outcry over Hillary's seeming endless "culture of corruption?"
Oh, yeah, she's a Democrat.
That's right, move along, nothing to see here.

Posted by: Oil for Food | Sep 19, 2007 3:59:59 PM

Another crimminal for Clinton? Why am I not surprised? Well, because she's a Clinton. Corruption is their way of life, but like the rest of the democrats, it's Ok. Only republicans are hypocrits if they are involved in scandal.

Posted by: TexBork | Sep 19, 2007 4:09:03 PM

This is just another reason the Republican's are on there way out and grasping at straws. How dare you call the Clintons criminals when the Bush Clan has cost thousands of American families there childrens lives, for NOTHING but BOLD FACE LIES! Put our country in a tail spin of deficit, economics and healthcare...
So support your perverted republican party, support your lying president, good luck on the way to heaven with that clan backing you!
We the people are tired of this administration and it's lies - so keep attacking Hillary...each time you do she gets stronger. No one can control what people do after they contribute or track everything they do prior to decide who to accept and who not to accept. Money is Money...all candidates need it, want it and work for it.
Hillary is simply being scrutinized because she is the first woman to run seriously for President, and will win.
Every time you pick something out about her like this her popularity grows, because we smell your cowardness...
times are changing so get ready to rumble!

Posted by: Dottie Santini | Sep 19, 2007 6:44:13 PM

Yeah, I guess it's not hypocritical for a democrat to accept money from crimminals. I was wrong. It's only bad if a republican does it. Also, I forgot that Hillary is above criticism. My bad.

Posted by: TexBork | Sep 19, 2007 7:10:00 PM

"support your lying president ..."
Interesting. As I recall, Slick Willy had a slight-yet-quite-publicized problem with bald-faced lying to the entire nation.

Yep, money is money ... and our little socialist Hillary would like to take everyone's money and distribute it to her discretion ... now, hmm, what kind of regime does that remind me of?

I can smell something here too, and it's not cowardice ... it's delusion. And if Hillary wins, I guess I can expect all of my tax dollars to go toward supporting the millions of illegal immigrants she'll welcome into this nation with open arms. Get a clue - she'll destroy this republic in favor of forming a socialist society.

Posted by: DisdainLady | Sep 19, 2007 7:46:59 PM

Poor Billary... she has all this so-called experience..... yet things keep turning up..... she is no different than her hubby... lots of secrets slowly coming out..... I want to hear more about her and the Vince Foster affair…. hehehehehehhehe

Posted by: FidoNY | Sep 19, 2007 8:21:49 PM

I'm a liberal. I don't march in lock step like a conservative. I wish Hillary would disappear. Democrats are going to shoot themselves in the foot one more time. The conservative attack dogs have had Hillary's scent for nearly 16 years. Hilary has too many negatives. I hate Bush. I don't see anything the democrats are offering ether. Pulling out of Iraq will backfire. If we pull out there will be a regional war. The fail of Pakistan will put nuclear weapons in reach of terrorist.

Posted by: Mike Johnson | Sep 19, 2007 10:35:51 PM

Party fund or Donation is not a questionable issue. Privacy issues have quite restriction on the source of funding going for donation.lest they come from dubious characters like terrorist supporters.
How,I should know, if the cigar was havana,if it looked like one ?
it all goes to the intentions of the donor or the person who complaints.As such there is no dispute on who the stinckers are,don't we know yet ?

Posted by: fixhist | Sep 19, 2007 10:42:25 PM

The Clinton's are a pair of the biggest lying crooks politics in this country has ever seen! Keep on dreaming about your "girl" becoming president. This country doesn't need someone to "mother" us through another four years of demcratic leadership for the lack of a better term. The current democratic congress proves that one of their hands doesn't even know what the other is doing, they're lost! This country would be a lot better off with republican in office with half a clue than a democrat with absolutely no clue, which just about covers them all!

Posted by: joe nunyabis | Sep 20, 2007 5:54:32 AM

Unbelievable!

"Keep on dreaming about your "girl" becoming president. This country doesn't need someone to "mother" us through another four years of demcratic leadership for the lack of a better term."

Do you think this "guy" has a problem with women? Its ok, mommy still loves you.

And how about this!

"And if Hillary wins, I guess I can expect all of my tax dollars to go toward supporting the millions of illegal immigrants she'll welcome into this nation with open arms. Get a clue - she'll destroy this republic in favor of forming a socialist society."

Yeah disdainlady, all of your taxes are gonna go to those immigrants! Every bit of it...none of it to schools, or roads, or your insane war! And omg! Get a clue? LOL a socialist society? That is terrific. You my friend, are the problem with my country.

And one last thing that someone mentioned earlier in a post... Hilary does get stronger with every attack. I am surprised they haven't figured that out yet. You heard it here first folks, those high negatives that so many dems are worried about, are going to win her the Presidency. They are ceilinged, they are not climbing! Those people aren't going to vote for her anyway (or any dem), and shes already leading in the polls. The people that trend towards the middle don't like hearing all the attacks. It turns them off the attacker and on to the person being attacked! So keep 'em coming!

Posted by: DC | Sep 21, 2007 2:28:57 PM

DC,

No problem with women at all, just the one named Clinton, and it wouldn't matter to me if a woman got elected. But there's a difference here. And that is that it would have to be an honest woman, not a lying crook! So I guess that excludes the majority of current running democrats. I stopped voting when the last Clinton was elected and never will again. I've realized that no matter who is president, the local and state laws that have any effect over me are enough to keep me happy. I did my twenty years in the military and retired without anyone's help. As long as congress keeps raising my retirement pay, which will happen until the end of time, I don't really care anymore who is president. I would at least like to see the "light at the end of the tunnel" as far as Iraq is concerned. However, we need to stay vigilant when it comes to chasing and ridding this world of terrorist. And, yes DC my mommy loves me. Thanks for reminding me.

Posted by: joe nunyabis | Sep 22, 2007 2:57:30 AM

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