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Out of Spotlight, Giuliani Embraces Convicted Moneyman
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ShareNovember 27, 2007 12:49 PM
A Pennsylvania man convicted in a notorious corruption case played host to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani at a fundraiser last night, despite the Giuliani campaign's public efforts to distance itself from the man.
Bob Asher, a major Pennsylvania Republican player as a national party committeeman, was one of four hosts for the $2,300-a-person event. Asher was convicted in 1986 on charges stemming from a bribery scheme intended to win a $300,000 state government contract. The case gained national attention when his co-defendant in the case, Pennsylvania state treasurer R. Budd Dwyer, committed suicide at a televised news conference. Asher was sentenced to serve one year in prison.
At that time, Giuliani was a federal prosecutor in New York, building a reputation by locking up criminals for similar corruption-related misdeeds.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
Giuliani came and went from last night's fundraiser without comment, ducking down in his car as ABC News cameras attempted to photograph him arriving.
Asher made himself more available than the candidate.
"That's 21 years ago, so we'll let that go. I did what I did, and I've paid my dues for it," Asher told ABC News outside the event last night. The event was closed to the press. "I've worked for [former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom] Ridge, [Sen. Arlen] Specter [R-Penn.] and all of the rest of the Republicans," Asher noted.
Asher was also the Pennsylvania state finance chair for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign in 2004. He is chair of one of the largest political fundraising groups in the state, the Pennsylvania Future Fund Political Action Committee.
Video: Convicted Moneyman and Rudy Giuliani Carpool to the Fundraiser
Video: Hear What Moneyman Asher Has to Say About His Record
Asher announced earlier this year he had agreed to be Giuliani's Pennsylvania political chairman, according to the New York Times, although the Giuliani campaign disputed that.
When asked about his role in the campaign last night, Asher said, "There's been no one named in Pennsylvania to any post here at all."
Maria Comella, a spokeswoman for the Giuliani campaign, said that Asher has assisted with fundraising efforts in the state, including several fundraisers yesterday, but does not hold an official title. She would not disclose how much Asher had raised.
The intimate dinner, attended by local GOP officials, was held at the home of Valerie and Alvin Clemens in Philadelphia's exclusive western suburbs. Asher, whose name was listed first among co-hosts on invitations for the event, tried to downplay his role in the affair.
"I'm just one of the people here," he told ABC News.
Asher is one of the heirs to popular Asher's Chocolates and now serves as co-chairman of the company. After he left prison, Asher became the Pennsylvania committeeman for the Republican National Committee, a position he holds today.
See the evite to the Giuliani fundraiser hosted by Bob Asher.
Justin Rood contributed to this report.
Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?
November 27, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (33)
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More proof Rudy surrounds himself with people of questionable character. Pedophiles,criminals,Neocons etc.
Posted by: AJ | Nov 27, 2007 1:12:38 PM
prison...republican supporter...same guy, different day. Birds of a feather flock and vote together.
Posted by: daddy | Nov 27, 2007 1:15:16 PM
What's next for Rudy? Maybe Tony Saprano as his Attorney General? He couldn't be any worse then Gonzales.
Posted by: AJ | Nov 27, 2007 1:32:55 PM
Rudy Guliani was too busy before 9-11 hiding the interests of Bernie Kerik who is now under federal indictment.He knew about his mafia connections and kickbacks.
He got kickbacks from the company that made defective radios that firemen had to use.
He was seeing another women while married.
No wonder he did not protect Americans before 9-11.
And murder rates went up by over 3000 in 2001 alone while Guliani was the mayor of new york.
Posted by: Lisa | Nov 27, 2007 1:46:27 PM
So this is the kind of people we can expect Giuliani to surround himself with. This guy and a peodophile priest is enough for me. I'm voting for Ron Paul, at least he's not openly trying to be bought. If Giuliani gets elected, I'm sure we can expect to see a lot worse.
Posted by: VeteranD | Nov 27, 2007 1:49:25 PM
republicans are rotten from the top down, the inside out. it is what they do best. they are traitors, the whole lot of them
Posted by: steven | Nov 27, 2007 2:05:23 PM
That's our scum Guiliani. He dosen't have
a chance.
Posted by: Gail | Nov 27, 2007 2:22:13 PM
So now lets count the number of criminals associated with the Clinton clan.
Posted by: Patriot2007 | Nov 27, 2007 2:40:15 PM
And what of the Clinton's crime circle????
ABC news is oddly silent....
Posted by: Josh | Nov 27, 2007 3:31:18 PM
I wouldn't be surprised if Guiliani has mob connection. I guess that was why some of the mob bosses opposed to his assination when that subject was discussed among the mob members.
Posted by: tom | Nov 27, 2007 3:39:18 PM
So, tell me, if someone is convicted of a crime, are they forever banned from politics? That does not sound right to me. After 20 years, what is the big scandal, anyway? I say let people start over after they have done their time. With 2 million people in our prisons, we don't want to bar each and every one of them from politics forever.
Posted by: womanwarrior | Nov 27, 2007 4:46:54 PM
Guiliani says one thing today and changes his mind tomorrow..... he is a great flip flopper ..... he does not have enough character to be Vice President yet alone President. Don't worry he will not be President! Neither will the other guy, what's his name - oh yeah, Mitt.
Posted by: sue from texas | Nov 27, 2007 5:50:08 PM
Surprisingly incriminating stuff, considering presidential candidates vie for their absolute best behavior during the campaign process. If this is the finest we can expect of Rudy as he shrewdly courts the American voters, imagine what this wise guy will be up to once the cameras are off and he's snuggled comfortably into the Oval office? Is it too much to ask that our political aspirants avoid even the appearance of wrongdoing? Another vote for Ron Paul...
Posted by: h5mind | Nov 27, 2007 8:01:37 PM
This is the best the Republicans can do?
Posted by: WHH | Nov 27, 2007 11:11:30 PM
Seems Rudy is almost as shady as Clinton. Trouble is, one of them will get elected.
Posted by: Royce | Nov 28, 2007 12:16:37 AM
I think it's funny that Republicans complain about the Clintons being crooks and this guy leads in national polls. No-one can complain about either camp if they would even remotely support the foe.
Any of you people who would vote for Rudy or Hillary must have your heads on backwards. I personally will write-in Mickey Mouse before I will compromise myself and vote for the lesser of two evils ever again.
Posted by: dk | Nov 28, 2007 2:35:48 AM
Another slimy Republican? SHOCKING!
Posted by: wilder5121 | Nov 28, 2007 3:27:57 AM
A presidential candidate ducking down when cameras are rolling? Now that's a new one on me. A Homer moment....DOH!!!
Posted by: mustkilltreemake2x4 | Nov 28, 2007 3:54:54 AM
I am not aware of the Clinton's being involved with the mob or other criminals but Giuliani put a lot of them in prison at one time but it is not a crime to know someone but not associate with them personally. All these comments about Clinton and Giuliani are in the past and we have to live in the future. Either vote for the party of your choice or don't vote. Clinton was a good president that's why he won twice and he would have won again if the laws didn't change. We had a good economy with him and now look. That's the republican's for you. Depression.
Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Nov 28, 2007 7:40:43 AM
Bob Asher is one of the finest people I have ever met. His work on behalf of the needy and less fortunate is done outside the glare of publicity and never for personal gain. I don't support Mr Guiliani but the fact Mr Asher does would make me think again about doing so. I've never seen you guys do a similar piece on all the criminals supporting Hillary. Why is that ?
Posted by: Glenn | Nov 28, 2007 8:12:02 AM
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