Ex-HUD official pleads guilty to role in fundraising scheme

[Robbien]

Source: DC Examiner

A former assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has pleaded guilty to illegally reimbursing campaign donors to funnel money to a candidate, according to court documents.

Jerry Pierce-Santos, who once served in the No. 2 position at HUD for President George H.W. Bush, faces up to a year in prison and $50,000 in fines, according to federal guidelines, prosecutors said in court documents.

. . .

In 2003, Santos agreed to make contributions in the name of 10 individuals to a candidate seeking election to federal office, documents said. The candidate was not identified in court documents.

In the second half of 2003, the individuals contributed a total of $20,000 to the candidate. Pierce-Santos then reimbursed the individuals for all or nearly all of the amount of the contribution, court documents said.

. . .

Pierce-Santos, of Vienna, was one of the largest fundraisers for President George W. Bush, according to campaign finance records. In 2004, Pierce-Santos raised more than $100,000 for the campaign, earning his way onto the president’s elite Pioneer status.

. . .

Pierce-Santos served as a member of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney’s Transition Advisory Committee and the Bush-Cheney ’04 National Finance Committee, and served as national finance co-chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Read more: http://www.dcexaminer.com/local/crime/012009-Ex-HUD_official_pleads_guilty_to_role_in_fundraising_scheme.html

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A year in jail for helping to put GWB in office. The punishment doesn't seem sufficient.

[formercia]

1. There are plenty more fish to fry.

Little fish, big fish.


No fish left behind.

[Belial]

2. Watch where you point that...

I seem to recall that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac contributed GREATLY to some people as well.. and it was not GWB. Maybe it is better to let some things go?

[Lochloosa]

3. Bullshit. Crooks are crooks. Period. Democratic or Repugs.

[karynnj]

4. 2003 - so it wasn't putting him in office, rather it was keeping him there

(What I wonder more about was the RNC person who likely gave money to the SBVT - he was a treasurer who was said to "embezzled" money. )