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Clinton Fundraiser Accused of Fraud

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April 04, 2008 12:39 PM

ABC News' Marcus Baram Reports: One of Hillary Clinton's major fundraisers has reportedly been accused of defrauding the Nigerian government in a pending criminal complaint.

Kase Lawal, an oilman from Texas who owns several energy companies, was accused by Nigeria's former top anti-corruption official of illegally pumping and exporting 10 million barrels of oil, according to McClatchy Newspapers.

Lawal is one of 250 "Hillraisers" who have pledged to raise at least $100,000 in donations for the candidate. Clinton attended a fundraising luncheon that collected more than $100,000 at Lawal's home in Houston last August.

The 53-year-old businessman did not return calls from ABCNews.com but he "unequivocally and vigorously" denied the charges to McClatchey reporters, explaining that he has traveled to Nigeria at least 70 times since 1999 and has never been served with legal papers.

Lawal and his family have been bipartisan fundraisers.

His wife, Eileen, contributed $1,000 to Barack Obama's leadership PAC, the Hope Fund, on April 25, 2006, according to campaign finance databases. Lawal has also raised money for the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Although the Nigerian legal system is notorious for politically-influenced prosecutions, Lawal's prosecutor, Nuhu Ribadu, had a reputation for integrity and recovered $5 billion in stolen funds during his four years as head of the country's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Though Lawal reportedly claimed that three national police chiefs have told him that the case "has no merit," the commissioner of the federation police's legal section told reporters that the criminal complaint is pending saying, "I want to go ahead with the case."

A spokesman for the Clinton campaign issued a statement: "Senator Clinton is one of many candidates and public officials to whom Mr. Lawal has donated money. While no vetting process is perfect, our vetting department does extensive vetting in order to catch any issues with donors, and to our knowledge Mr. Lawal is an upstanding member of his community in Houston, TX."

April 4, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary, Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (23)

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I'm as anti-Hillary as anyone but this just doesn't add up to anything substantial. Let's keep digging up dirt on Hillary and Obama. It's much more enlightening that something like this.

Posted by: Surelock Homes | Apr 4, 2008 12:48:31 PM

WHAT CAN WE SAY!!!!! DIRTY POLITICS ARE RAMPANT IN EVERY CAMPAIGN!!!!!!!

I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THIS ELECTION IS OVER.

Posted by: stella | Apr 4, 2008 12:56:52 PM

Some of the Donor Class are either corrupt or walk the edge. Part of business as usual, when you have to rely on Fat Cats for funding.

Everybody knows this.

Posted by: The Commander Guy | Apr 4, 2008 1:03:29 PM

I truly that had this been connected in any way to Obama he would have been crucified!!! I'm anxious to see how the main stream media reacts to this story.

Posted by: Jack | Apr 4, 2008 1:04:40 PM

Google Hilliary the movie. She is on tape knowingly conversing with a convicted felon, and breaking federal election law with illegal fundraising. Watch THAT before you say these allegations are worthless. It's particularly important considering the fact that Obama outraised her 40-20 million. At that discrepancy I don't think she's all too weary about where her money comes. (Just like Bill)

Posted by: ugh! | Apr 4, 2008 1:07:50 PM

Nothing suprises me anymore about Clinton;s and their Fat Cats.

Posted by: mary h | Apr 4, 2008 1:09:23 PM

Stop being ignorant and face the reality. Obama's father is from Kenya. this the problem of many people like Lou in America. we have many ignorant, uneducated people who link things to the wrong place and people.Get some education about the world Geography before you respond please. what does this case has to do with Obama or his father country of Origin?

Posted by: Politics | Apr 4, 2008 1:09:50 PM

lou stop integating! Obama father came from Kanya. Hallary is gulity by association as Barack with Rozko.

Posted by: MTN | Apr 4, 2008 1:10:58 PM

This could be the tip of the Ice Berg. Remember Rendell and Ambiguous References to Rezko?

There is a alot we don't know about the Nigerian Fraud case, yet. I'd say at least 50% of the scandal is basically unknown.

So what are the unknown unknowns? Could this guy also be involved in other Nigerian Scams, like ther notorious Nigerian e-mail Scam? Not knowing whether he is or he ain't is scary.

Everyone should be afraid that there is a minefield out there just waiting to explode. Take Rendell's word on this people. Rendell wouldn't mislead anyone, would he? 50% unknown is scary.

BE VERY AFRAID.

Posted by: The Commander Guy | Apr 4, 2008 1:17:58 PM

google "Jerry Zeifman" re his statements about HRC's "honesty" problems.

Posted by: Brianna | Apr 4, 2008 1:20:06 PM

Folks are sure busy digging up any kind of dirt to try and throw on Clinton as the primaries approach. Couldn't help but state the obvious.

Posted by: katrina | Apr 4, 2008 1:21:41 PM

KATRINA, good observation.

Posted by: oops | Apr 4, 2008 1:25:09 PM

well the other day there wa a blog Obama takes oil money.
well now we know Hillary does to.
Wasnt her supporters screaming and making a big todo over it ? I dont see them condemning her the way they were condemning him?
Thats right its different it is Hillary the Queen of Sleaze, shes allowed

Posted by: Lauren | Apr 4, 2008 1:25:59 PM

Lou
Your bias is showing .

Where is your open mindness? with Hill?

Posted by: Lauren | Apr 4, 2008 1:36:09 PM

"Kase Lawal, an oilman from Texas who owns several energy companies, was accused by Nigeria's former top anti-corruption official of illegally pumping and exporting 10 million barrels of oil, according to McClatchy Newspapers." - So what ....

The Nigerian govt. is the most corrupt govt in the world. It's amazing that the government is accusing someone else of corruption - Ridiculous.....

Posted by: Ton | Apr 4, 2008 5:27:35 PM

Politics is corrupt, I do not like it. It seems that the more powerful someone becomes in Politics the more likely one has to buddy up with some corrupt individual.
This kind of Crap is crosses all politicians, all of them attract these kinds of individuals, and they all seem to be some kind of businessman. What scares me most about the Republican Party, is that they want to privatize the government, and give these kinds of people more control.

Is there a way to rid us of this stuff?

Posted by: Thinking | Apr 4, 2008 6:21:31 PM

BIG OIL COMPANIES, FRAUD, HYPOCRISY ...
THERE COMES UP THE TRUE FACE OF CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Mark Webb | Apr 4, 2008 9:23:23 PM

Accused by Nigeria? Give me a break, the land of all the scams!

Posted by: dgh | Apr 5, 2008 12:21:45 AM

Let's find out who has donated to O's campaign.
He keeps saying starting $3 and $98.
Nobody asked those...why he keeps saying it?
To convince people or himself?
Is he contradictive himself?

Posted by: crisis08 | Apr 5, 2008 1:21:54 AM

Oh no!!! Heavens forbid Hillary would have some sort of campaign problems? We were lead to believe only REZKO and Obama were the dirty ones! HA! What comes around goes around. And, since this is HRC we are talking about, there is plenty more that will come out too...

Posted by: A.N. | Apr 5, 2008 11:26:30 PM

Ihave lived and worked in Nigeria for some time...not as corrupt as it's been portrayed. The Government is cleaning up it's act now, with a newly elected president, that's why all those that have committed fraud against it like the clinton fund raiser are being called out now for justice. These crime were committed in conjunction with the former military leaders.
It is now clear that the clintons are benficiaries of the old corrupt Nigerian government. Telling us one thing and doing another

Posted by: Justin | Apr 5, 2008 11:42:19 PM

...look at Peter Paul vs Clinton, look at "Chinagate" or the "China Plan", look at Hillary the Movie, look around and see if you like what you see...

Posted by: andrew of california | Apr 5, 2008 11:53:48 PM

Well the Clintons have a million corporate lobbyists and special interests who have given them money and now expect to be paid back. I just wish the Clintons would be more transparent about this.

-jay

Posted by: politics nut | Apr 14, 2008 12:55:59 AM

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