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| For Immediate Release | |
| Dec 20, 2001 | Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
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IN CRIMINAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ROSSOTTI OWNED STOCK IN COMPANY WHICH HAD CONTRACTS WITH IRS (Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest law firm that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, scored a victory in its ongoing attempt to hold IRS Commissioner Charles O. Rossotti accountable for his criminal conflict of interest in continuing to hold $100 million worth of stock in AMS, an IRS contractor he founded and for which his wife is outside legal counsel. The Washington Post recently reported that Rossotti was selling his interest in AMS, due to the “potential” for conflict of interest. Rossotti’s belated decision came only after Judicial Watch sought criminal investigations into Rossotti’s illegal actions continuing to hold stock in the company. Additionally, Judicial Watch is pursuing a lawsuit against the IRS for failing to produce documents about Rossotti/AMS under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This year alone, AMS reportedly will make at least $17 million from its IRS contracts. During the last days of the Clinton Administration, Rossotti was granted a “waiver” for his conflict as “obvious repayment for a job well done in allowing the IRS to illegally audit perceived adversaries of Bill and Hillary Clinton,” stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman. Late last month, Judicial Watch delivered 26,103 citizen petitions to President Bush demanding that he fire Rossotti over his illegal activities. “Rossotti’s decision to divest from AMS is too little too late. It is an attempt to stave off criminal indictments concerning his conflict of interest. Will his wife continue to serve an outside legal counsel for the company? When will the stock be divested? Will his wife sell her substantial interest in the company as well?,” asked Klayman. “Rossotti’s decision to divest was forced by Judicial Watch’s legal actions. It is a victory, albeit incomplete. Not until the IRS Commissioner is fired by President Bush and criminally prosecuted by Attorney General Ashcroft for making purchasing decisions to benefit his own company will justice truly be done,” added Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. |
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