| For Immediate Release Dec 12, 2001 |
Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
PETER PAUL GAVE $2 MILLION TO HILLARY CLINTON SENATE CAMPAIGN – YET SHE NEVER REPORTED IT TO FEC COURT RULES SUIT CAN GO FORWARD WHEN PETER PAUL RETURNS TO THE UNITED STATES SECOND LAWSUIT CONCERNING HILLARY PROCEEDS IN FEDERAL COURT (Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest law firm that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced that a California state judge ruled yesterday that Hillary Clinton donor Peter Paul cannot pursue his civil lawsuit against the Clintons until he returns to the United States. The court ruled that Mr. Paul is a fugitive and cannot pursue his claims in court at this time. Judicial Watch argues that he is not a fugitive since he is in custody in Brazil and Justice Department officials have met repeatedly about the Clintons with Mr. Paul while he has been in Brazilian custody. And it is the policy of the U.S. Justice Department not to meet with “fugitives.” Mr. Paul, who is represented by Judicial Watch, donated over $2 million last year to Mrs. Clinton’s Senate campaign as part of an effort to cement a deal for post-Oval Office employment for Bill Clinton with his companies. His contributions, which paid for last August’s Hollywood Gala Tribute for Bill Clinton, helped Mrs. Clinton raise an additional $1.5 million in contributions. Mr. Paul’s story was confirmed by ABC News and is backed up by evidence which includes copies of checks, financial records, “thank you” notes from the Clintons themselves, and candid video and photos. Mr. Paul’s contributions were never reported to the Federal Election Commission, and Mrs. Clinton and her campaign lied to the media about the contributions and Mr. Paul’s funding her campaign. Yet rather than indict Bill and Hillary Clinton, Peter Paul was indicted on alleged stock fraud by a U.S. attorney from Hillary Clinton’s new home state, New York. (Mrs. Clinton would have benefitted directly from the alleged stock transactions at issue in the indictment.) Mr. Paul is now in custody in Brazil pursuant to an extradition request from the U.S. government. Mr. Paul had sought to sue Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton and others for among, other things, their fraudulent misrepresentation and failure to report his contributions put him in legal jeopardy vis à vis the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). Mr. Paul has an additional lawsuit in federal court before Judge Royce C. Lamberth which seeks to force the FEC to investigate Mrs. Clinton’s violations of campaign finance law. This suit will go forward. “Of course, Mr. Paul will appeal the California judge’s ruling, but in any event he can pursue this state lawsuit if he returns to the United States. It is irony of ironies that Mrs. Clinton’s top donor to her Senate campaign cannot sue her now because he is in a Brazilian jail. In the meantime, Mr. Paul’s federal lawsuit against the FEC will go forward,” stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman. | |