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Who Is Hsu? Captured Fundraiser Didn't Vote
September 07, 2007 12:25 PM
Mysterious Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu is in custody again, after a brief return to a fugitive lifestyle he maintained for 15 years. But new questions are cropping up about his past.
The latest puzzle: Despite funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars into Democratic coffers, Norman Hsu is not a member of the Democratic party. In fact, records appear to reflect he isn't even registered to vote.
Hsu's name does not appear on voter rolls in either California, where Hsu lived in the 1980s and early 1990s, or in New York, where he lived more recently, according to documents and state officials.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
After news accounts last month exposed the criminal past of the tireless fundraiser, who had donated and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Hillary Clinton and a host of other Democratic candidates, Hsu turned himself in -- only to skip out on $2 million bail.
He was nabbed by the FBI in Colorado last night and is being held in federal custody. Officials say he will be returned to California for sentencing.
Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.
Hsu, reportedly a naturalized U.S. citizen, would have been eligible to vote, say experts, even after his 1992 conviction on a fraud-related felony charge.
While California and New York state laws bar imprisoned and paroled felons from voting, Hsu was never sentenced for his 1992 felony conviction. Hsu skipped out on his sentencing hearing, returning to court only last week -- before skipping out again.
For those 15 years, "he was in a gray area," said Ryan King, a policy analyst with the nonprofit Sentencing Project, which studies state and federal incarceration policies. According to the laws, "he was eligible to vote until the moment he's sentenced to prison or parole."
Strange details abound in Hsu's biography. Before his trial, Hsu was the victim of a kidnapping reportedly tied to a Chinese gang in the San Francisco bay area. After dodging his 1992 hearing, Hsu is believed to have returned to his native Hong Kong for several years.
Details of his businesses remain sketchy. Upon investigation, many of his recent business addresses appear to be little more than mail drops, despite the thousands of dollars those companies reportedly helped generate for Hsu that bankrolled his donations.
Many donations Hsu harvested for his Democratic politician friends came from people who, like himself, were not registered to vote. Some political finance experts have noted the families did not appear wealthy enough to afford the big-money checks they reportedly wrote to Clinton and others.
Hsu's spokesman did not respond to a request for comment from the Blotter on ABCNews.com. Hsu and the donors have denied wrongdoing and say the donations were all legal. Clinton's campaign said it has donated to charity the money it received directly from Hsu. Many other campaigns have followed suit.
Now in custody, Hsu is being held without bail and facing years behind bars. Once he's sentenced to prison, California will take away his right to the ballot which he apparently never exercised.
In perhaps an ironic twist, the state won't take away his right to make political donations, Ryan said. State law does not prohibit felons from contributing to political campaigns, leaving Hsu free to continue funneling thousands of dollars to candidates and groups of his choice.
"If a candidate wants to accept it, that's a different story," Ryan noted.
Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?
September 7, 2007 in Norman Hsu, Clinton Fundraiser | Permalink | User Comments (43)
In another ironic twist the abc news hounds wrote this whole article without a whimper of the reason this man never voted. Lets play STUMP the network...roll the wheel please...as the wheel turns let us hear a few words from our sponsor...DEPENDS...if you keep electing octogenarians then you know you can DEPENDS on them...back to you doug
Posted by: daddy | Sep 7, 2007 12:41:33 PM
Maybe Hsu has been staying at his cousin Beldar Conehead's house? I thought the democrats would have eliminated this guy by now.
Posted by: Shane | Sep 7, 2007 12:42:31 PM
Either is ABC but they push a political agenda, which includes lying and distortion. The equivalent of screaming fire in a theater by abusing their access to the public airwaves.
Posted by: Browne | Sep 7, 2007 2:08:53 PM
Hsu was a fugitive PLUS he is one of the "Hillraisers" for Hillary Clinton and a big purchaser of Democrat politics. ChinaGate was swept under the rug by the lib media - campaign finance violations, anyone? De-javu? I see abcgo.com has removed it as a headline after about 30 minutes and this will also be swept away by Dems "friends in the media".
Posted by: Bill | Sep 7, 2007 2:43:41 PM
The liberal media will soon cover this story up. The media sides with liberals by a wide margin. If this guy was a fundraiser for republicans it would be page 1 for 5 months.
Posted by: Shane | Sep 7, 2007 8:10:17 PM
This story would grow legs and run throughout the entire political world if the media was trully wanting the best and seeking to right the wrongs for the good of the USA. Unfortunately, media journalists (loosely used word) will promote and report only stories and just the tidbits of the stories that would advance what the media wants. We need to fight for getting the good back in this country. If its not too late!
Posted by: John | Sep 7, 2007 8:36:46 PM
Who is he? He is one of Hillary's major fundraisers.
Posted by: bob | Sep 7, 2007 10:21:37 PM
The communists said they would take over our country without having to fire a bullet. Socialist groups like the aclu, judges, the media and most of our politicians have broken down family values, ruined education and have made a mockery of Christian values. Bloomingdale's may as well start selling Mao's standard grey neru suits.
Posted by: jerry todd | Sep 7, 2007 11:03:59 PM
This whole Hsu's thing makes me wonder how corruptive and dangerous our political system is in. You look at this crook: He screwed a number of poor chinese with phony scam by milking them one mil and got himself kidnapped. He escaped to HK for few years and back to NYC. The stupid media reports him some kind of successful business man while the address of all his companies are either bogus or mail box number. Is his business legitimate given his criminal background? Is this reasonable for us to suspect where his money and wealthy is coming from? This guy has never been involved political process only until after 2003. He is all of sudden so interested in Democratic Party's cause and turning into huge contributor of Dems. I couldn't believer my eyes this freak donated money dems from all levels, some as low as city coucileman to where he even does reside in.
What is relationship between Hsu and Paw family? How the money thing works in these two? How come a poor mail carrier making postal office wage can write some 200k checks to dems. Interestingly, Paw family does not show any pattern of being politically active, let along democratic party's politics.
Why all these criminal donators (remember Johnny?) are targetting dems?
Can our "journalist" dig into a little deep to see if communist China is behind all these?
All in all, our liberal friends won't be happy. That would cause them 08.
By the way, I am chinese american, I don't buy your liberal non-sense. I do not need a care or AA from government or your party!
Posted by: amChinese | Sep 8, 2007 3:46:09 AM
Our government seems to be run by special interest groups, holding money in front of our politician's faces!
Our so-called politicians no longer work for USA citizens, they work more for illegals, La Raza, big business and others.
Our politicians have prostituted themselves, and they are no better than "those" that stand on the streets!
Posted by: Bobc | Sep 8, 2007 8:38:16 AM
The Clinton/China scandal is one of the great non-covered stories of our time. There is something funny going on here. Why doesn't the press do it's job??
Posted by: McW | Sep 8, 2007 10:47:54 AM
So how does one verify that illegal contributions were indeed given to charity, and what charity it was?
What stops the charity from turning around and sending the contribution back to the candidate?
Can the candidate take the amount as a deduction on taxes?
Posted by: Lou | Sep 8, 2007 11:34:47 AM
This is goofy, y'all are wasting time here, there was nothing illegal about his campaign contributions, nothing, not one thing illegal since 1992. You stupidly speculate about how this makes Hillary a bad person. Why waste time here, if something good comes out,OK. Funny how everyone worries about this, defend Craig, ignore Iraq, push the outlandish budget under the rug, turn your back on terrorism in Afganistan, and act like you don't know what a military surge in Baghdad is. Again, what illegal campaign financing did he do?
Posted by: able | Sep 8, 2007 12:47:55 PM
Why isn't anyone reporting on what medical condition caused Hsu to be removed from the Amtrak on a stretcher and hospitalized? Was it a homicide attempt by the Chinese gangs that kidnapped him earlier? Or some other Akenside attempt at an addition to the Clinton body count?
For reporters you certainly don't seem very curious at such a relevant mystery!
Posted by: reality intrudes | Sep 8, 2007 1:32:06 PM
How typical of the press to focus on an aspect of the Hsu case that is so very irrelevant to this man's real history. What a total embarrassment to admit that no reporter has yet to come up with any tangible evidence of just how Mr. Hsu has been earning so much money operating sham businesses for 25 years since his graduation from Wharton. Apparently, the press has lost its sense of "smell" because anyone with half a brain knows for sure that the Hsu official biography does not pass the "smell test." Moreover, the Hsu story casts a dark cloud over Democrat fundraising -- the cloud of Chinese financial contributions made through dummy business people like Mr. Hsu. The only question appears to be whether Mr. Hsu was working for Chinese gangs or for the Chinese government (assuming the two are not the same).
Posted by: Duggan Flanakin | Sep 8, 2007 2:04:52 PM
They need to follow the money.
Posted by: Greg | Sep 8, 2007 3:24:12 PM
He's Bill Clinton's step brother!
Posted by: geddesman | Sep 8, 2007 4:36:38 PM
Hey, ABLE!!!!! Get a grip on sanity, how about it?
Ever hear of statutes that bar "foreign" contributions to political campaigns? Can you point me to the exclusion, IN LAW, that lets democrats skate on this crap?
Ever hear of "limits" per donor? Again, I've never heard of limits on "Republicans only".
Posted by: sndpaper | Sep 8, 2007 6:03:41 PM
I guess we can stop watching wall to wall Senator Craig foot tapping scandal nonsense now that the Hsu story is off the radar. The wall to wall coverage on Craig was just another "wag the dog moment in the Clinton playbook..This should have been investigated on mainstream TV. There is so much more to know. The Clintons and the Chinese go way back
Posted by: Holly Ricci | Sep 8, 2007 7:04:06 PM
Clinton's connection with this guy and Indian's TATA Corporation makes me wonder about the Clinton. I'll include Marck Rich too. Maybe she can pardon them when she gets elected. We don't need more crooks in the gov't.
Posted by: marc | Sep 8, 2007 7:42:57 PM
Why aren't reporters doing their jobs on this story? What textile company is Hsu involved in? IF he's a businessman then what do we know about his companies. This is a big story with a lot of questions. Why can't we learn the facts behind this story? Why aren't we hearing about the bundled money, who did it come from, why isn't Hillary returning the bundled money? I've read that Hsu is here illegally and that the majority of the people Hsu bundled money from are here illegally and like Hsu most have never even voted.
Posted by: cr42ct | Sep 8, 2007 8:33:08 PM
I guess reporting on a coed's clothing is more important than knowing if a communist country is trying to influence our elections. This isn't different than state run media only it's based on media bias. All I'm asking for is one network channel to thoroughly investigate and report what they find and it doesn't matter to me what political party it affects. We need news options!!!
Posted by: casey | Sep 8, 2007 8:54:14 PM
I would be more worried about Hillary's activities.
Attorneys for each side will also debate the inclusion of a videotape as evidence -- a video in which Clinton can be heard apparently agreeing to plan a fundraiser, which was later determined to be illegal by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). "
Posted by: Patriot 2007 | Sep 8, 2007 10:22:15 PM
Let's look at the Clinton "BODY COUNT" so far and then let's all take odds on Hsu's chances of still breathing by Christmas 07.... maybe 10 to 1 he will be gone..
Posted by: Dirtbag | Sep 9, 2007 12:11:10 AM
Hsu gave huge amounts of money himself or thru bundling to Hillary. He also gave huge amounts (by Hsu and bundling)to Tennessee and Harold Fords campaign. Why did Hsu that? Why did Hsu give or raise money to the amendment in Ohio that raised the minumim wage? Why did Hsu do that? We need to know these facts. Brian Ross is the best investigative reporter out there. I hope that we will learn the facts from ABC soon.
Posted by: Susan | Sep 9, 2007 11:58:52 AM
Bobc..then it's time to kick their ****right out into the street where they belong...
Posted by: Ramage100 | Sep 9, 2007 3:05:24 PM
By-the-by, Hsu is an American, if it were illegal to take "foreign contributions", both parties would have to give back money from "The Catholic Chrurch", stationed in ITALY, VATACAN CITY. Have you ever heard of that sndpaper?
Posted by: able | Sep 9, 2007 3:11:08 PM
You're all pathetic, there's nothing illegal since 1992, there's nothing about "Chinese Inflence"here. There's not even a hint of illegal donations. I've got a good grip, you ought to look at yourself, sndpaper. Hypothesizing about "Bad Democrats" from the basis of THIS ARTICLE is GOOFY. I think you all are trying to justify DeLay, Ney, Noe, Gingrich.....now there's some CROOKS.
Posted by: able | Sep 9, 2007 6:26:25 PM
This was written for me......Hey, ABLE!!!!! Get a grip on sanity, how about it?
Ever hear of statutes that bar "foreign" contributions to political campaigns? Can you point me to the exclusion, IN LAW, that lets democrats skate on this crap?
Ever hear of "limits" per donor? Again, I've never heard of limits on "Republicans only".
Posted by: sndpaper | Sep 8, 2007 6:03:41 PM
.................................According to THIS ARTICLE, Hsu is an American, if he registers, he can vote. But, here's the kicker, he's NOT a Democrat. WOW, now, who should get a grip on SANITY?
Posted by: able | Sep 9, 2007 6:47:06 PM
China funded Hsu to buy a US president. It will delay a US response to the upcoming war.
Posted by: kong | Sep 10, 2007 9:49:52 AM
"Ever hear of statutes that bar "foreign" contributions to political campaigns? Can you point me to the exclusion, IN LAW, that lets democrats skate on this crap?
Ever hear of "limits" per donor? Again, I've never heard of limits on "Republicans only"."
And what does the above have to do with anything.
Posted by: bobby stickers | Sep 10, 2007 10:38:35 AM
"China funded Hsu to buy a US president. It will delay a US response to the upcoming war."
Other than Right Wing fantasies, do you have anything to back this up?
Posted by: bobby stickers | Sep 10, 2007 10:39:16 AM
Hsu has funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to Conniving Calculating Clinton through third parties, including the residents of the infamous Daly City house. Hsu is just the tip of the stench iceberg supporting Conniving.
Wake up Dems - don't let your LOSER faction give the nomination to somebody who has more than 50% DISAPPROVAL in every poll! You can and must do better.
Posted by: ALEX H. | Sep 10, 2007 1:49:06 PM
I don't know bobby. Let's look
at the dual use technology Clinton let
slide out of export during the 90's.
No Quid pro quo there huh?
Posted by: bobby socks | Sep 10, 2007 1:51:01 PM
How many more "Hsu Bundler's" are out there?
Posted by: mrrocker | Sep 10, 2007 5:31:09 PM
able, I know you are an expert at the point the finger in the other direction as a liberal I am sure you have been doing it all your life. But, if it walks and quakes like a duck it is probably a duck, not moose as liberals would have us believe.
Posted by: Watchman | Sep 10, 2007 9:50:06 PM
I listen to the enemy like HUSH BIMBO, BILL OHREALLY, SHUN Hannity, and the nervous little Mikey the savage weiner, spewing out nonsense that their listeners pick up and bring to posts like this. The comedy of the republicans and their bathroom encounters with strangers should endear them to the american soul for eons.
Posted by: daddy | Sep 11, 2007 10:54:06 AM
You see a US Senator taking what is obviously illegal money, and you bring up Sen. Craig. What image comes to your mind when you see Barney Frank?Do you recall Rep. Fred Richmond? He was a lulu, who makes Sen., Craig look like a saint.
Worry about democrat crooks who will take (and can get) money from any source, however illegal or contrary to American interests; Chinese money buying a US President for the second time, and one with the same last name as the first. I guess the Clintons' daughter will be next.
Posted by: TheOldTrooper | Sep 11, 2007 1:45:16 PM
I think ABC mwill follow this one with the same vigor it did the Vince Foster murder.
Posted by: TheOldTrooper | Sep 11, 2007 1:47:03 PM
Dear ABC News,
I don't think it's too puzzling. What I find puzzling is that this article doesn't even suggest the obvious suspicion one might have that this man was hired to funnel money into a political campain. How unbiased. And by the same reporter who wrote "Are GOP Leaders Leaking State Secrets?" last month. That article is SO biased, it couldn't possibly be written by the same person. Plagiarism, perhaps? I don't like being talked to like I'm stupid. Stop it.
Posted by: Melissa | Sep 11, 2007 4:50:45 PM
Melissa, if the shoe fits and you are republican wear it proudly...
Posted by: daddy | Sep 12, 2007 9:41:46 AM
How did a guy with a felony warrant out on him, A) Reenter the country, and B) Get to stand next to Hillary Clinton? Is the Secret Service asleep at the switch or don't they vet people as long as they donate lots of money?
Posted by: John Jorsett | Sep 14, 2007 2:22:46 PM
To get a taste of how long the Clintons have been under the influence of Communist China.. you really need to read some old artles that the Washington Post has conveniently organized for us.
Why hasn't the media been ALL over this stuff and investigated. It is in EVERY AMERICAN's interest to knwo where the money comes from ESPECIALLY if it is being funneled by a foreign COMMUNIST government. Quite simply... because the liberal media is covering their eyes and they dont want to know any of this.
I could care less about sex scandals.. but when a foreign government is attempting to pull the puppet strings.. I do care.. and THIS NEEDS TO BE EXPOSED
Posted by: joelschlegel | Sep 14, 2007 6:23:18 PM
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