Thursday, July 22, 2010

Gary lawyers up

From the Daily News:

Congressman Gary Ackerman spent nearly $100,000 of his campaign cash on lawyers to respond to a Daily News investigation of his sweetheart stock deal.

The Queens Democrat shelled out $96,015 over the past three months to the high-powered Washington firm McDermott Will & Emery, according to recent Federal Election Commission filings.

Ackerman hired the firm's hotshot lawyer, Abbe Lowell, to nail down the timing of a meeting the pol set up between Israeli officials and a defense contractor in which he owned stock.

In March 2002, Ackerman got the stock in California-based Xenonics Co. with a favorable $14,000 loan from a close friend, Selig Zises.

He made $100,000 when he sold the Xenonics stock in 2006.

At some point, The News revealed, Ackerman arranged a meeting in his congressional office between Xenonics and Israeli officials.

Ackerman's lawyer initially told The News that, during his investigation, he'd found evidence that the Xenonics meeting occurred in either February or November 2002 - right before or during the time Ackerman held a financial stake in the company.


And let's not forget Alan Gross' contributions.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

alan gross is a queens hero.

gary worked to get the U.S.traitor POLLARD, a pardon from bubba clinton.

Anonymous said...

As I recall, Gross' article mentioned that the value of the Xenonics stock Ackerman purchased from the Zises loan at one point was worth nearly $1 million!!! Something is not adding up. However, it is not the principal but the principle! The fact that Ackerman has been using his office to promote his personal agendas (and those of his friends) should be reason for a criminal investigation of this slimy elected official.

Anonymous said...

Here's the link to Gross' article. It's worth a second look in light of this news:

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B4Pmr3Je6tm2YTZiYjE4ZjAtMTg5Zi00ZDNlLTk3Yzct
ZGZlYjBjYzIwNDAy&hl=en

The sections entitled "Corruption Comes in All Zises" and "A Moment of Xen" are very revealing.

Is it me or should campaign money be used to defend a candidate against corruption charges? Whether the candidate is guilty or innocent, the money is not intended for attorney's fees. I hope people will take a stand against corruption and not give Ackerman any money.

This is like the NY Mets throwing Claire Shuman a benefit to pay her fines for illegal lobbying. Why are people expected to foot the bill to defend these crooked politicians from illegal behaviors? Do they think we're really that stupid? Oops. I just answered my own question.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...

alan gross is a queens hero.

gary worked to get the U.S.traitor POLLARD, a pardon from bubba clinton.


Yes this is true and the pressure put out by AIPAC and other lobby groups to get him released was incessant.

Then there is the case of the Rosen and Weissman who were spying for AIPAC.

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/analysis.aspx?id=17318

The Israel Lobby Celebrates Espionage in New York

By Grant Smith

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24106.htm

Anonymous said...

I see a pattern here. First Meeks then Ackerman. Using money that is meant for other purposes, these bozos have the nerve to engage in questionable (read illegal) activities and when caught, hire high priced attorneys to get them off the hook. Isn't democracy grand? I will never vote for an incumbent even if it means not voting! The electoral process has become a sham anyhow!

Alan Gross said...

It is an honor to be recognized but the effort was the result of teamwork. For example, my friends Geoff, Sue, Chesh, and Jerry helped me refine and edit both articles. The Crapster provided me with the forum to publish my work as well as send me appropriate links to investigate. All roads lead me to one conclusion. Congressman Gary Ackerman has violated ethical principles on many levels and does NOT deserve to be re-elected.

In my second article (the link has been posted by someone in an earlier comment), I demonstrated that Ackerman's role in Congress was not benefiting the people but he was lining his pockets, and those of his friends, while serving on Committees that were, in my opinion, a conflict of interest. For example, his Queens Tribune associates' attempts to create sexually-oriented businesses in Asia is highly suspect. However, when I saw the suspicious loan from Selig Zises appear on Ackerman's Disclosure Statements (Did I get it right this time, Gary?), I smelled a rat. I did write about it here and eleven days later, the New York Daily News carried the ball across the goal line. They connected even more dots and published the news about the meeting between Israeli officials and Xenonics representatives in Ackerman's office. I can't take credit for their fine investigative work but if I helped steer them in the right direction from the article published here on Queens Crap, then come election time, perhaps I just might have made the difference that helped the electorate make the right choice.

Anonymous said...

LOL...heh, heh, heh!

It looks like Congressman Hackerman is suffering from Xenonics-phobia!

The feds will nail you yet...
you bloated pig!

And it's long overdue!

Anonymous said...

"Ackerman's lawyer initially told The News that, during his investigation, he'd found evidence that the Xenonics meeting occurred in either February or November 2002 - right before or during the time Ackerman held a financial stake in the company."

WTF??? Aren't records supposed to be kept? And besides-does the timing really matter?

Anonymous said...

From the U. S. House of Representatives
Committee on Standards
of Official Conduct

"As to other possible uses of campaign funds – including for meal expenses, travel expenses, vehicle expenses, and legal expenses – the FEC regulations provide that the Commission will make a determination as to personal use on a “case by case basis.” Id. § 113.1(g)(1)(ii)."


Has anyone reported Ackerman's admitted use of campaign funds to the Federal Election Committee (FEC)? Are you listening NY Daily News? We know you're out there!

Anonymous said...

Now let's finish the job by connecting ALL of the dots:

Ackerman's ties to the Queens Trib; those whore ads they run; Michael Nussbaum's Shanghai Entertainment corp; being on the Asia (how convenient) Committee, etc.!

(P-s-s-s-t...he's been friends with that notorious criminal/developer Tommy Huang for years).

There's more than this Xenonics scandal stuff to be dug up.

And when it's done properly...the hole will be big enough to bury Gary and some friends.

This is just the tip of a very big iceberg.

Do some more digging you Daily News reporters for a real scoop that will skyrocket your careers into the stratosphere!

In the meantime stay tuned to Q.C. for more leads.

Anonymous said...

WOW!

This looks like it will turn out to be even bigger than the old Donald Manes scandal that rocked the 80s!

Expect a lot of rotten fruit to fall from Ackerman's tree of corruption.

THUMP!
Was that Moby Stavisky that just hit the ground?

Oops...followed by "granny" Shulman?

Oh...by the way...Gary was tight with "The (late) Donald" too!

Anonymous said...

What's with Ackerman and the late cultist Sri Chinmoy?

http://www.srichinmoybio.co.uk/news/sri-chinmoy/video/

http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/14/jayanti-tamm-carwheels-sari-opinions-book-reviews-cults-sri-chinmoy.html

Anonymous said...

Sri's folks are doing a concert at Flushing Town Hall.

Why not attend and ask them if they ever funneled (laundered?) money to Cong. Gary's campaigns.

Anonymous said...

Sri cultists At Town Hall you say?

("Hare Khrishna...Hare Khrishna...Khrishna, Khrishna...").

They must really be hard up for booking fees days.

We understand that they get quite a few grand just to rent their auditorium for even a small not for profit community event.

I guess after all that funny business that went on with their past executive director, they're struggling to get out of the red ink.

Anonymous said...

Please put a condom over that dick head!

If that what his face looks like these days...I shudder to think about what his real...uh...well never mind!

Gag (barfing)!

Anonymous said...

Ugly is as ugly does.

Like the twisted picture of Dorian Gray was exposed to view...so is Ackerman's corrupt countenance.

He's an arrogant swine!

Tribune Mike said...

Just as long as no one asks about the Asian whores...

Anonymous said...

Hey, let's hold an "ugly" contest.

I nominate for the "female" category Toby Stavisky.

A perplexing choice however...which end of her should we enter...top or bottom ?

Anonymous said...

Gary's runnin' scared!

What does the House Ethics Committee have to say about all this?

Maybe we'll even find out what happened to those funds that went missing from some student union group when Ackerman was attending Queens College.

Wasn't he its treasurer?

Anonymous said...

Cast your investigation net wider and land some other "Multi Media" mob fish...like those whore masters Nussbaum & Shenckler1

Let's not let the "Two Mikes" get away.

Anonymous said...

was there not a past post about ackerman forcing the
the former shea stadium officials to cancel the n.y.c high school baseball championship game in order for his daughter to be married at home plate ?

Anonymous said...

Anyone know if Skunkler and Ackerman are still buddies? Heh Heh Heh

Anonymous said...

Pay for your mistakes from your own pocket. How dare he use campaign funds. He's such a low life!! It's not like he couldn't afford it.

Anonymous said...

Pay for your mistakes from your own pocket. How dare he use campaign funds. He's such a low life!! It's not like he couldn't afford it.