Hsu On The Lam
One of Hillary Clinton's major fundraisers turns out to also be a major felon on the run. Yesterday, connections to Norman Hsu turned up in a Wall Street Journal investigation into large donations from a family of modest means at Hsu's old address. Today, the Los Angeles Times reports that Hsu lammed it after agreeing to serve a three-year stretch for grand theft (via Hot Air):
For the last 15 years, California authorities have been trying to figure out what happened to a businessman named Norman Hsu, who pleaded no contest to grand theft, agreed to serve up to three years in prison and then seemed to vanish."He is a fugitive," Ronald Smetana, who handled the case for the state attorney general, said in an interview. "Do you know where he is?"
Hsu, it seems, has been hiding in plain sight, at least for the last three years. ...
On Tuesday, E. Lawrence Barcella Jr. -- a Washington lawyer who represents the Democratic fundraiser -- confirmed that Hsu was the same man who was involved in the California case. Barcella said his client did not remember pleading to a criminal charge and facing the prospect of jail time. Hsu remembers the episode as part of a settlement with creditors when he also went through bankruptcy, Barcella said.
It shouldn't be all that difficult to find Hsu. All police need to do is follow the trail of money he has left behind. He has spent the last three years raising close to a million dollars for Democrats, including a half-million of his own money.
Perhaps they can just stake out Democratic campaign events and fundraisers. Norman Hsu takes a great picture here with Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who laughs as she gets her t-shirt from Hsu at a breakfast in 2005. He's in that deep bunker known as the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. In the same year, he gave a luncheon for Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) at Fortress St. Regis.
He's been tough to find, all right. Hsu keeps hiding among Democrats.
More has also come out about Hsu's success in raising funds through the Paw family of Daly City, who not-co-coincidentally live in Hsu's old house. The family that took out a $270,000 refinance on their home have contributed a whopping $213,000 over three years to Democrats, including $55,000 to Hillary. Their son Winkle Paw turns out to have even closer connections to Hsu -- he works for the fugitive.
Also, the LAT reports that Hsu has another modest household in the $200,000 range for donations. The Danny Lee household in New York, which includes a roommate named Yu Fen Huang, gave $201,200 to Democrats since 2004, including over $37,000 to Hillary.
However, that hasn't been Hsu's best fundraising act. He garnered over a million dollars in capital to buy latex gloves for resale, supposedly to waiting clients. Hsu got arrested when investors found no gloves, no clients, and nothing but a scam. Hsu fled after his plea agreement on the grand theft, and turned into a major Democratic fundraiser. Hillary may have some explaining to do -- and several other Democrats right along with her.
Posted by Ed Morrissey on August 29, 2007 6:27 AM | Comments (29) | TrackBacks (10)
Comments (29)
Posted by Pete Fanning | August 29, 2007 7:01 AM
Hsugate expands.....
Posted by Otter | August 29, 2007 7:07 AM
...like slick's belly after burgers.
Posted by Clyde | August 29, 2007 7:15 AM
Democrat: "Republican Senator Craig cruises airport bathrooms for gay sex! Mark Foley is a pedophile! Look over there! A unicorn!"
/democrat
Posted by MarkD | August 29, 2007 7:17 AM
What did my Senator know, and when did she know it?
Nah, too trite. Besides, it's not even reported in the newspaper, so it never happened. There is no media bias, none. The story is attempted sex in a bathroom, not possible bribery of a leading contender for the presidency, potentially by a foreign power. After all, it's not news. It's Buddhagate, chapter II.
Do we really need to watch this rerun?
Posted by Bennett | August 29, 2007 7:21 AM
"Barcella said his client did not remember pleading to a criminal charge and facing the prospect of jail time. Hsu remembers the episode as part of a settlement with creditors when he also went through bankruptcy, Barcella said."
This is funny. No money to pay creditors but plenty to donate to Democrats. And Senator Clinton can probably sympathize with Hsu's memory problems, having had some hazy recollections of her own from time to time.
Posted by stackja1945![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/nav-commenters.gif)
| August 29, 2007 7:27 AM
"Hillary may have some explaining to do -- and several other Democrats right along with her."
HC and other Democrats will say "I deny everything" and the MSM will believe her and them.
Only the GOP is capable of wrongdoing.
By the way, where is Rove?
How did he arrange this?
Posted by eaglewings | August 29, 2007 7:32 AM
Well this is where the dems differ from the repubs. Repub pleads guilty to disorderly conduct no sexual conduct involved. Dem contrib gets 1M from defrauded investors, hides the money, claims bankruptcy and then distributes the money to dem patrons in cali and ny. Well at least when the dems screw their constituents they'll have plenty of latex available to make sure its safe sex.
I wonder if we can give Dog the Bounty Hunter a new program idea-have him stake out dem fundraisers for fugitive felons?
Posted by mrlynn | August 29, 2007 7:33 AM
The first Clinton administration was in bed with the Red Chinese. Looks like the second one (God forbid!) will be, too.
I sure hope the FBI is all over this guy and his gang.
/Mr Lynn
Posted by Piper17 | August 29, 2007 7:45 AM
Can you say "culture of corruption". Wonder is Hsu is friends with Marc Rich.
Posted by NoDonkey | August 29, 2007 7:49 AM
So the Democrat's want us to elect Red Army chambermaid Ms. Rodham for President?
Couldn't be because she's accomplished. This complete dingbat has never held a real job in her charmed life, unless parroting the MoveOn.org party line suddenly counts as employment.
Since the Mafia currently pulls the strings on the Senate majority leader, why shouldn't the Chinese get in on the act?
Every single time I think that the absolutely worthless Democrat party has hit rock bottom they sink lower. Why am I at all surprised?
Posted by Scott | August 29, 2007 7:51 AM
Presidential pardons to follow.
Check back after 2008.
Posted by Scott | August 29, 2007 7:54 AM
Presidential pardons to follow.
Check back after 2008.
Posted by LuckyBogey | August 29, 2007 8:18 AM
As I posted earlier on the original post, Mr Hsu has many friends in the DNC and this is not the first time his name has appeared, at least as far back as 1995......... Anyone remember Mr Sioeng?
... from the INVESTIGATION OF ILLEGAL OR IMPROPER ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION WITH 1996 FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS FINAL REPORT of the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS SENATE Rept. 105-167 - 105th Congress 2d Session - March 10, 1998 (Ted Sioeng, His Family, and His Business Interests"
"Ted Sioeng, his family, and his business interests gave $400,000 to the DNC during the 1996 election cycle. Through extensive analysis of bank records, the Committee has determined that at least half of this figure, or $200,000, was made with money wired into the U.S. from accounts in Hong Kong."
"Norman Hsu--a $7,500 check was written on Sioeng
San Wong's account to Friends of Norman Hsu on March 11, 1995.90 Hsu is a former president of the Chinese-American Association."
It would appear that this is not the first time Mr Hsu has provided money to the DNC/Clintons.
Posted by unclesmrgol | August 29, 2007 9:25 AM
Another round of "put the money back". Since the money is ill-gotten gains, those Democrats who received the donations should, in good faith, put the money into escrow, and if it's found that the money belongs to the people defrauded by Hsu, they should give it back.
They should not "give it back" to Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, or any other of their favorite charities -- they should give it back to the victims.
Posted by Sandspur | August 29, 2007 9:49 AM
Money from the ChiComs and an endorsement from Castro - perfect!
Posted by Jeanette | August 29, 2007 10:05 AM
Bill Clinton sold our country out to the Chi-Coms and is still reaping the benefits.
Of course they want Hillary in so they can get more of our technology secrets.
The problem is this has hit too early in the election cycle for anyone to claim there is no time to investigate it.
The FEC needs to get involved and we need to plaster it all over the blogosphere because we know for sure the Dem media won't mention it.
Posted by Jeanette | August 29, 2007 10:10 AM
Bill Clinton sold our country out to the Chi-Coms and is still reaping the benefits.
Of course they want Hillary in so they can get more of our technology secrets.
The problem is this has hit too early in the election cycle for anyone to claim there is no time to investigate it.
The FEC needs to get involved and we need to plaster it all over the blogosphere because we know for sure the Dem media won't mention it.
Posted by Walrus | August 29, 2007 10:39 AM
"He's been tough to find, all right. Hsu keeps hiding among Democrats."
Like hiding a letter in the Post Office.
Posted by NoDonkey | August 29, 2007 11:24 AM
"Hsu keeps hiding among "Democrats."
As in "the People's Democratic Republic of the United Soviet States of Amerika" (USSA)?
Which is what Comrade Hillary and her lunatic left red cabal would like to turn us into.
When do we round up the kulaks and what income level qualifies one as a kulak? Is the trust fund exempt (which would let Kerry/Kennedy off of the hook)? How about campaign contributions and book advances?
Do we have enough salt mines to send the kulaks to in Montana, or can we lease the northwest territories from Canada, for our USSA gulag?
Does Comrade Hillary still go around carrying pictures of Chairman Mao?
Cause she ain't gonna make it with anyone, anyhow.
Posted by brooklyn | August 29, 2007 11:33 AM
Same old story with the fraud embraced by Democrats...
The Clinton Corruption remains vivid today.
And the MSM will cover it up...
It is a sincere sign of the problems of the modern DNC, who continue to support the ugly elements of their past, wishing to push this unethical garbage upon us today.
At least, with some rough spots, the GOP gets rid of those caught in folly.
But it almost seems as if the Democrat Party rewards the most negligent in it's ranks.
It is embarrassing to consider, the front runner of the Democrat Party for 2008 is Hillary Rodham, who was involved in so many malfeasant efforts, including Whitewater, Chinagate, Travelgate, Filegate, etc., etc., etc...
One of the most telling examples of the Clinton deceit, was their policy to lie about the genocide in Rwanda.
There is simply no place, for those who would be deceitful about something like this, in places of sincere power.
Hillary should not even be a Senator, but that is the problem with the blind partisans supporting the Democrat Party.
Very sad indeed.
Posted by dhunter | August 29, 2007 11:44 AM
Gives new meaning to the phrase Chinese "money" laundry.
Anyone check 19 year old intern, Monica's boyfriends pardon list that may be why Hsu is freely hanging out with the dems. No fugitive here he's got "walking" papers from Bill.
Any of the current Republican presidential hopefuls going to run with this, I'm tired of the new tone.
How bout Obama or Edwards, anyone want to take on Hill or are both vying for Vice Pres.
Finally, now that Gonzales and Rove are gone maybe a new prosecutor can run with this without being hamstrung by the dems and media about their own pecadillos
Posted by dhunter | August 29, 2007 11:51 AM
Gives new meaning to the phrase Chinese "money" laundry.
Anyone check 19 year old intern, Monica's boyfriends pardon list that may be why Hsu is freely hanging out with the dems. No fugitive here he's got "walking" papers from Bill.
Any of the current Republican presidential hopefuls going to run with this, I'm tired of the new tone.
How bout Obama or Edwards, anyone want to take on Hill or are both vying for Vice Pres.
Finally, now that Gonzales and Rove are gone maybe a new prosecutor can run with this without being hamstrung by the dems and media about their own pecadillos
Posted by InBama | August 29, 2007 4:04 PM
He don't remember pleading to a crime and facing jail time? Look out,that danged Arkansas Amnesia is spreading!!
Posted by eaglewings | August 29, 2007 5:23 PM
Better not make any slanderous conducts about Nelson otherwise he'll get Edwards to Hsu you.
Posted by Angry Dumbo | August 29, 2007 7:43 PM
Dirty money is so old skool, bundling is chump change. 527s are where the real action is. If you are going to break election finance rules, you might as well smash them beyond recognition.
During the 2004 election cycle, the group raised $137 million for get-out-the-vote and voter registration activities in 17 states. Of that total, the FEC found that only about $34 million raised by the group complied with federal fundraising limits. The bulk of the group’s contributions were limit-free, sometimes multimillion-dollar gifts from liberal financiers such as George Soros, Progressive Insurance founder Peter Lewis and the Service Employees International Union.
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/1_1/latest_news/19767-1.html
That's right. 103 million dollars of illegal contributions. After that whopping 775k fine, the boys and girls over at ACT still cleared $102,225,000 to cover attorneys fees. Come to mention it, that kind of money buys a whole lot of silence.
Here and I thought Americans Coming Together was that group that said they would trade sex for votes for Kerry (who served in Vietnam). ; ))
Posted by Aakash | August 29, 2007 9:56 PM
There is so much misconduct, controversy, and crime that Hillary has been engaged in, from the distant to recent past. There is so much simmering under the surface... I hope that a lot of these things are uncovered, during the presidential election cycle.
But time for that is running out.
Posted by unclesmrgol | August 29, 2007 10:42 PM
Well, Hillary is going to give money given by Hsu himself to "charity" (read that not the victims of Hsu's crimes), but she isn't about to give back money raised by Hsu from others.
I think she will discover shortly that money given by Hsu in the name of others is actually money given by Hsu. And that money is ill-gotten gains from Hsu's pyramid scheme.
All the other Dem candidates who got a Hsu-box of money are planning on giving it to "charity" as well.
Does the Democratic Party count as a charity?
Posted by Rose | August 30, 2007 12:30 AM
How come Hildebeast, by way of "RESTITUTION" for having ILL-GOTTEN gains, gets to take $1 MILLION and donate generously TO THE CHARITIES OF HER OWN CHOSING (thus coming out quite the hero with the charity's fan base), when JOE Q. PUBLIC would have to turn the cash over to the AUTHORITIES pending investigations, and having the money go to services directly related to CRIME REPARATIONS for victims of crimes - not the usual DIM CHARITY.
Posted by fouse, gary c | August 30, 2007 10:55 PM
What is it about the Clintons, money and fugitives? Remember Marc Rich? Let's see how far the mainstream media investigate this story.