Feed: Sen. Dodd escapes punishment for alleged corrupt activities - AggScore: 12.7

Sen. Dodd escapes punishment for alleged corrupt activities

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caption id alignalignleft width210 caption Many believe that Senator Dodd is an example of what39s wrong with lawmakers in Washington, DC. Photo NY Sun img srchttpcdn2b.examiner.comsitesdefaultfilesstyleslargehash6e5adodd.jpg alt width210 height167 captiondivSenator Chris Dodd DCT, whoallegedly received asweetheart real estate deal in exchange for securing a Bill Clinton presidential pardon for one of hisassociates, among other allegations, will leave the U.S. Senate in January free from investigations or prosecution.divApublicinterest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruptionreported onWednesdaythat on December 20, 2010, the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics commonly known as the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed a Judicial Watch ethics complaint filed against outgoing Senator Christopher Dodd.Judicial Watchs complaint alleges that SenatorDodd assisted a longtime friend and associate, Ed Downe,to obtain a reduced sentence and ultimately a full presidential pardon from President Clinton for tax and securities crimes, in exchange for gifts, including a sweetheart mortgage deal that he failed to properly disclose on his Senate Financial Disclosure forms.According to the Senate Ethics Committee responseem The Committee has carefully evaluated the allegations and information in your complaint After considering all of the information before it, the Committee has determined that there is not sufficient substantial credible evidence of improper conduct or violation within its jurisdiction to warrant further action by the Committee.emIn its response, the Senate Ethics Committee membersdefinedtheir jurisdiction emTo receive complaints and investigate allegations of improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate, violations of law, violations of the Senate Code of Official Conduct, and violations of rules and regulations of the Senateem The Committees letter was signed by John C. Sussman, Chief Counsel and Staff Director.Theethics complaint, filed on April 24, 2009, provided substantial evidence that Dodd engaged in a corrupt quid pro quo deal to help a criminal business associate emThis complaint concerns recent media reports alleging Senator Christopher Dodd used his position and influence as a United States Senator to intervene on behalf of his longtime friend and business associate, Edward Downe, Jr. Senator Dodd is then alleged to have benefited financially as a result of his intervention, and failed to disclose the financial benefits by filing inaccurate Senate Financial Disclosure Statements from 2002 through at least 2007.emJudicial Watchs complaint alleges that Senator Dodd appeared at a hearing on behalf of Downe in 1993 to helphim obtain a reduced sentence for violations involving tax and securities laws. In 2001, Dodd ultimately helped Downe secure a full presidential pardon for his crimes on President Clintons last day in office, bypassing the normal pardon vetting process. The pardon of renegade financier Mark Rich by Clinton created such an intense firestorm that very few in the news media noticed Downes sweetheart deal brokered by Dodd.divDoddwas elected United States Senator in the elections of 1980, and is now the longestserving senator in Connecticuts history, the 8th most senior of current senators and one of three from the 1980 freshman class who is still serving. The Dodd campaigns were heavily funded by the financial services industry, which is regulated by committees Dodd chairs in the Senate.divdivOpensecrets.org reports thatDodd has received over 223,000 from AIG employees, many of whom were Connecticut residents, for his campaigns. Additionally, it has recently been revealed that Dodds wife is a former Director for Bermudabased IPC Holdings, a company controlled by AIG.divIn 2002, Dodd allegedly received a significantly reduced, belowmarket sales price, for a twothirds interest in a property located in County Galway, Ireland, from Downes associate William Kessinger. Dodd already owned a onethird interest in the property. Downes signature appears on the property transfer documents. He is listed as a witness.According to the Judicial Watchcomplaint, Senator Dodd, Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, allegedly failed to report the gift in 2002 and may have filed inaccurate Senate Financial Disclosure forms related to the property in subsequent years in violation of the 1978 Ethics in Government Act. The penalty for filing false financial disclosure forms is 50,000 and up to one year in prison.blockquotestrongemNOTE After Judicial Watch filed its Senate Ethics complaint, Dodd amended his Senate financial disclosure forms. However, the property may yet remain undervalued. emstrongblockquoteThe evidence indicates Dodd helped out a crooked friend, received a cutrate real estate deal on a property in Ireland in exchange, and then lied on his financial disclosure forms to cover it all up. This type of behavior is potentially criminal and certainly unethical, and it is shamefulthe Senate Ethics Committee failed to take this matter seriously, said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.The Senate Ethics Committee sat on our complaint for nearly two years, and then dismissed it out of hand days before Dodds Senate career ends. Even in corrupt Washington, the Ethics Committees despicable handling of the Dodd matter is about as bad it gets. No wonder Congresss approval rating is just 13, an alltime low, Fitton added.The Senate Ethics Committee is made up of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. Its current members are Barbara Boxer, DCalifornia, Chairman Johnny Isakson, RGeorgia, Vice Chairman Mark L. Pryor, DArkansas Sherrod Brown, DOhio Pat Roberts, RKansas James E. Risch, RIdaho.In 2008, Senator Dodd came under fire for receiving preferential loan terms from Countrywide Financial as a member of the companys VIP Program. Ethics Committee Chair Barbara Boxer just made Judicial Watchs 2010 list of Washingtons Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians for her conflicted handling of the Countrywide scandal.emSpecial Thanks to Judicial Watchs Jill Farrell for her help with this report.em