Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Daily News calls for more info from Gary

From the Daily News:

Ackerman needs, first, to document exactly when he opened his office for Xenonics so the timing can be matched against his financial stake, as well as reveal who attended the meeting. He also must document what that stake entailed.

He reported on financial disclosure forms in 2002 that Selig Zises, a friend and major Xenonics shareholder, had loaned Ackerman's wife, Rita, $14,000. He also reported the purchase of options in Xenonics stock. In a recent interview, Ackerman said he used the loan to make the buy and repaid it with interest when he sold out at a profit of roughly $100,000.

Except for a half-page promissory note that included no repayment schedule and a check showing repayment at 6% interest, he declined to produce any paperwork reflecting the transactions. In a statement issued after publication of The News' story, he said: "I did no more than arrange an introduction so the parties could decide on the merits whether the product fit their needs and sale capabilities. I understand that no business was ever done between Israel and Xenonics as result of that meeting or at any other time.

"I did nothing else in this matter - not another meeting, not another conversation, not seeking an earmark, not helping with any grant."

Here are relevant sections of the House Ethics Manual: "Members and employees of the House are frequently approached by individuals or organizations seeking assistance for business undertakings. Obtaining information for constituents regarding government contracts and services, as well as helping them deal with government regulations, is an important aspect of a Member's representational duties."

That gives officials leeway in serving business constituents. But the manual goes on to warn:

"Members and staff should also avoid becoming too closely affiliated with a particular enterprise, to prevent any appearance that they are accruing benefits 'by virtue of influence improperly exerted from [their] position in Congress.'"

Owning an interest in a firm would seem to fall under the rubric of "becoming too closely affiliated with a particular enterprise." That's why Ackerman owes New Yorkers the complete picture.

18 comments:

georgetheatheist said...

OZYMANDIAS

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

-Percy Bysshe Shelley, 1818

D. Truth said...

It's amazing that the Queens Crap site had information about Zises on Jan. 1! When will the Daily News investigation include the Asian connections including the whore ads in the back of the Queens Tribune and Ackerman's ties to Nussbaum and Tobman (Shanghai Entertainment)? Is he also using his committee assignments to help them as well???

Anonymous said...

This is a comment from today's Daily News regarding the article that appeared on their website:

One Hopeless Jet Fan
9:11:02 AM
Jan 13, 2010

The Daily News Editorial Department appears to have been bought and paid for by the Queens GOP. What else would explain why when it comes to Northeast Queens Democrats, the Daily News has repeatedly shown that it will throw away all ethical and journalistic standards with pathetic trumped-up charges that follow the exact same M.O. I think Madoff robbed Hitler's grandson too, does that make Ackerman a Hitler supporter? Utter nonsense. Zuckerman should be ashamed of what has happened to this paper.

Alan Gross said...

This whole Ackerman affair stinks to high heaven! Many Americans suffered losses to various Ponzi schemes recently so why should Madoff victims get special treatment? Is it because Ackerman's buddies, the Zises, needed Ackerman's help to recoup their losses?

As I wrote in my January 1st article about Ackerman published exclusively on Queens Crap, "The Zises’ Family Management Corporation, which is part of Ackerman’s personal investment portfolio, has been sued by Madoff investors. FMC was supposed to cap its investments to 35% of the fund’s net assets but it was discovered the Company invested over 60% of their funds in Madoff’s company leading to a $25 million loss for FMC investors. Ackerman, who sits on the House Committee on Financial Services, has been criticized for overlooking the role of the Zises family in the Milken and Madoff financial scandals."

Why should Ackerman and friends receive special treatment? What about us common folks who are attempting to pay off credit cards debts that we were enticed into building up in the first place? Some cards are at 29.4% APR. How is this different than loan sharking? I bet a better deal could have been negotiated with a loan shark. Does anyone actually think that the new laws going into effect shortly will be helpful? If so, I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I can get for you real cheap!

If Ackerman expects us to believe his electric Kool Aid explanation, he is really out of touch. There are so many legal and ethical questions regarding his role in Congress that a team of investigative journalists would be hard pressed to discover all of the facts. You may recall that I wrote to the Congressional Ethics Committee but they never responded. At the time, I said that I didn't know if Ackerman's activities were legal and that an investigation by appropriate authorities should be initiated. Well? I'm still waiting!

Anonymous said...

This second post sounds like ol' "ruffles" Rafferty of the Trib.

Start job hunting "Ruffles".

"My Fair Lady" (nformer) said...

BRAVO, "GEORGE"!

Images of Manes', Mc Laughlin's, Gallagher's, Ackerman's tumble from power and others soon to follow.

The house of cards is indeed falling.

All together now:

"London Bridge is falling down...."!

state's evidence said...

Methinks that a sign has been hung in the clubhouse's bathroom declaring open season on Ackerman.

I'll bet he decides not to run for office again (at their "urging").

The Dems will surely use him as their sacrificial lamb hoping that the bulk head doors hold fast to contain this scandal solely in Gary's office.

Should the feds look deeper they might find other connections to other pols ("Tribco", etc.).

When they do (which is just a matter of time) that "water tight" bulk head will give way and the whole corrupt Queens borough ship of state goes down to Davy Jones locker!

Anonymous said...

I meant the third post (RE "Ruffles")...sorry.

Liman said...

Godless George scores again! Turn up the heat! Gary Ack-ack-ackerman's gotta go!

georgetheatheist said...

You know Schenkler and Rafferty are now working overtime to make this story front page for Friday's Tribune.

gov. arnold schwarzenegger said...

Ach, dat vas anudder gut von! Har-har.

Anonymous said...

You know Schenkler and Rafferty are now working overtime to make this story front page for Friday's Tribune.
-------------------------------------------

It will only add more fuel to the fire. It will further expose Ackerman's real relationship to the Queens Tribune and his "sex for sale" buddies.

I. M. Curious said...

Has anyone explored the relationship of the late Sri Chinmoy and his Queens headquarters to Gary Ackerman yet?

Anonymous said...

Well, it's official. Gary Ackerman is now the poster child of congressional corruption according to Fox News' Hannity show.

Anonymous said...

Yes "George"...I can see the Trib's headline in my mind right now.

"Daily News attacks Congressman Ackerman"....yadda, yadda.

Hey...it's an "Ack attack" turned on Ack!

Your turn in the barrel CONgressman Gary!

Bob Dylan:
"How does it feel...to be on your own...with no destination known...like a rolling stone"!

Heh, heh, heh....what goes around comes around!

Have a happy new year.
You too at Tribco.

Anonymous said...

Mark my words...when this is all over it'll wind up being as big as the Donald Manes PVB scandal that rocked the 80s.

Funny how Michael Nussbaum will wind up having worked for both Manes & Ackerman...who'll go down as two of the most corrupt officials in recent Queens history

Then there's Alan Gershuny who also worked for Donald then Gary.

What a crew.

another slighted constituent said...

You insulted a caring constituent who asked you some honest questions by calling him "goofy" in a written reply that was not befitting of a mature elected official of sound mind.

Now who's looking like a goofy grafter Congressman Ackerman?

Hold up your shaving mirror to your face to get an answer.

Your empire is about to fall apart.

Arrogance preceded the fall.

Anonymous said...

Now let's see if Congress has the cojones to censure or cast out this pompous phony.

Ethics Committee....do your job!

P.S.
Some of us would still like to know what ever happened to the money that "disappeared" while Gary was the treasurer (?) of a student organization at Queens College back in the day.