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Clinton to Return Hsu-Linked Cash

September 10, 2007 8:23 PM

Whoishsucapt_mnHillary Clinton's presidential campaign will refund $850,000 in donations connected to disgraced fundraiser, felon and would-be escape artist Norman Hsu.

Noting weeks-old news stories that Hsu allegedly "engaged in an illegal investment scheme," Clinton campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson announced Thursday evening that "out of an abundance of caution," all money raised by Hsu for the campaign would be returned to the approximately 260 individuals from whom Hsu reportedly raised the funds.

Questions had been raised in the last few days about many big contributions from Hsu's contributors, which appeared incommensurate with the modest incomes of the individuals and families who gave them.  Both Hsu and the Clinton campaign had denied any wrongdoing.

Hsu, was wanted by California law enforcement for 15 years, until he turned himself in 10 days ago. Hsu posted bail, and failed to turn up to a Sept. 5 hearing. He was captured last Thursday after spending several hours reportedly trapped in the bunk of his Amtrak sleeper berth.

In his statement, Wolfson also announced that the Clinton campaign plans to "institute vigorous additional vetting procedures on our bundlers, including criminal background checks."

When news of Hsu's questionable activities broke in late August, Clinton's campaign re-gifted to charity $23,000 it had received directly from the wealthy Chinese-American fundraiser and cancelled a fundraiser he was slated to host.  Several other politicians who received funds from Hsu have made similar donations.

September 10, 2007 in Norman Hsu, Clinton Fundraiser | Permalink | User Comments (45)

User Comments

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No dummie, it is bundled from 260 users. I can assure you most campaigns would have kept the money, including John Edwards. Hillary will run a clean ship, Hillary will be your next president, get used to it.

Posted by: ur2farleft | Sep 11, 2007 5:41:25 AM

Amazing isn't it? The most dishonest couple ever to occupy the White House and people still back them.

Conservatives, it took me a long time to figure out because you want to believe that logic and common sense and a rational approach will educate liberals. But don't waste your time. There have always been socialists in this country who believe we are a great nation because of government and there always will be. There will always be the cowards who even pleaded with FDR not to get involved in Europe in the late 30's and early 40's and there always will be.

You can't educate them and you can't reason with them. Best to simply ignore them. They are, for the most part, fools. Don't try to reason with a fool.

Somebody from Chicago posted above that the ambulance chaser from North Carolina would be a good choice for this country.

I rest my case.

Posted by: Nez | Sep 11, 2007 8:14:01 AM

Where's the media frenzy, the congressional outcry and the public tribunal? The fact that the major media organizations are quietly burying this story is unconscionable.

Posted by: cado | Sep 11, 2007 8:28:19 AM

I'm surprized Hillary didn't blame this on a "vast right-wing conspiracy".

Posted by: Jerry | Sep 11, 2007 8:39:34 AM

Let's see...repubs hate her, for sure she must be the country's savior.

Posted by: elfranche | Sep 11, 2007 10:11:12 AM

Notice how Wolfson say's the campaign will now check donors more closely. They knew what they were getting into. No kudos to ABC for reporting this a week after the story hit.

Posted by: castra regina | Sep 11, 2007 10:13:03 AM

The Clinton have a long history of DIRTY MONEY....long history...THANK GOD SHE WON'T BE OUR PRESIDENT...

Richard...Clinton didn't murder people...? Chinese embassy bombing, remember.....?

Richard Liberals a weak, they think ignoring terrorism will make it go away that why 911 happened....

Posted by: Freddie | Sep 11, 2007 10:36:54 AM

If there is one truth, criminals always find one another!

Posted by: geddesman | Sep 11, 2007 10:48:54 AM

OK People one word Enron how do you think the Clintons were elected. Hus’s should not surprise any one at all. Why don’t we take a deeper look at her books and see who else has paid for the White House

Posted by: F.H | Sep 11, 2007 10:51:06 AM

I bet democrats are really mad that Hsu was finaly caught. Isn't crazy that so many of them were taking money from this fugitive? Now all of those who took the dirty money should be named, not just Hillary. Hillary's been on the take from him for a long time. So was her husband, but the Clinton administration was all dirty to begin with.

Posted by: TexBork | Sep 11, 2007 10:56:58 AM

Let’s not for get the Clintons had a change to stop this with the first tower bombing and what happen Nothing it was put under the mat and the free trade act was signed and we lost thousands of American job to over seas and in return we get lead paint for our Babies to eat and play with. What Next

Posted by: Fred | Sep 11, 2007 10:57:41 AM

Just wonder what this shady character was buying for 850K. There's much more to this story. Only Hillary and a few that really know the story behind this generous gift. You can smell the sink from this story all the way from California.

Posted by: Joe-California | Sep 11, 2007 11:06:09 AM

pls for God sake give this woman a break.she hasnt done anything wrong.she saw that the money aint worth taking thats why she returned it back.she has done what bush will have never done.
she is the best choice Americans and she can bring our honour back.Bush has done a lot of harm to us and is time we unit and defend the Good name of America.God bless America

Posted by: antaru | Sep 11, 2007 11:07:59 AM

Posted by: Brian | Sep 11, 2007 5:37:13 AM

You said: “No dummie, it is bundled from 260 users. I can assure you most campaigns would have kept the money, including John Edwards.”

///

Excuse me please, Brian... it is patently obvious to every other “non-dummie” reader that the "users" as you called them, are all reported as being of low-income, and DO NOT have the financial wherewithal to pony up (on average) $3269.00 each.

Therefore, your defensiveness of Mrs. Clinton is tantamount to giving her campaign a clean bill of health, just because you say so; and kindly leave Edwards out of this matter. It’s that kind of obfuscation that relieves the pressure on shady deals.

As the GEICO Goat says, “Naaahhhhh!”

P.S. Dummy is not spelled “dummie” unless you are referring to more than one, in which case you would have to add an “s” (ess).

…and which also begs the question; WHO are you calling a dummy? Clinton or Hsu?

[Vince Foster, et al - R.I.P.]

…just One Man’s Opinion


Posted by: One Man's Opinion | Sep 11, 2007 11:26:14 AM

As said above, this story is old, but ABC News relunctantly reports it now, claiming questions have arisen in 'the last couple of days'. Your news organization is a disgrace.

Posted by: Dan Green | Sep 11, 2007 11:33:23 AM

Where are all of the "investigative reporters" who searched every inch of Pres. Bush's past? Not one of them did the least bit of investigating on this Hsu, who appeared out of nowhere and handed out money to the democrats like it was so much candy. And, every one of them took it in the same way - no investigation into this "out of nowhere" millionaire. That was exactly what happened when Bubba was being given Chinese money for his political purposes (and God knows what else).
I am a WWII vet and former long time member of the democrat party, and was once a fairly large contributor to some of the democrat candidates, and I know the system. This kind of stuff is as criminal as it gets, and Hillary and all the rest of the donees knew it!!!
Wake up Americans! Do not let your political party alliances blind you to the greatest threat this Country has ever faced, which is being totally ignored by the democrats, and, worse than that, the democrats are now openly allied with America’s enemies (compare the recent bin Laden tape with most utterance by major democrat Senators/Reps and presidential candidates).

Posted by: Richard Manning | Sep 11, 2007 11:40:48 AM

I like the ABC feedback forum, but when they reluctantly put up a story which may be the least bit critical of Democrats, ABC News restricts critique to this lousy blog format.

But want to critique any of the dozen stories on Craig in the last couple of weeks? You can use the full-blown massage board where the comments can actually be seen and followed.

Posted by: Dan Green | Sep 11, 2007 11:44:07 AM

Where are all of the "investigative reporters" who searched every inch of Pres. Bush's past? Not one of them did the least bit of investigating on this Hsu, who appeared out of nowhere and handed out money to the democrats like it was so much candy. And, every one of them took it in the same way - no investigation into this "out of nowhere" millionaire. That was exactly what happened when Bubba was being given Chinese money for his political purposes (and God knows what else).
I am a WWII vet and former long time member of the democrat party, and was once a fairly large contributor to some of the democrat candidates, and I know the system. This kind of stuff is as criminal as it gets, and Hillary and all the rest of the donees knew it!!!
Wake up Americans! Do not let your political party alliances blind you to the greatest threat this Country has ever faced, which is being totally ignored by the democrats, and, worse than that, the democrats are now openly allied with America’s enemies (compare the recent bin Laden tape with most utterance by major democrat Senators/Reps and presidential candidates).

Some day the truth will emerge about the strange, and as yet untold, story of the death of Vince Foster!!

Posted by: Richard Manning | Sep 11, 2007 11:45:37 AM

I did say republactyles.

This aims the reptilian-minded greedy thugs which rule this country and their clueless yet bloodthirsty supporters, not the moderate republican.

Posted by: elfranche | Sep 11, 2007 12:06:36 PM

This is nothing new for the Clintons. Rememer what the Clintons did (and Governor Jim Guy Tucker went to jail for) with Whitewater? It was a money making scheme devised with "Straw-Buyers" just like Hsu's massive contributions to HRC through small donors. The only reason she is "returning" the money is because the F.B.I. is looking in to it further.

Posted by: fergusdude | Sep 11, 2007 3:23:01 PM

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