From the LVRJ: Harvey Whittemore, once a high-powered lobbyist who became a fixture in Nevada politics, was convicted Wednesday of unlawfully funneling more than $133,000 in campaign contributions to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Following roughly seven hours of deliberations over two days, a federal jury found Whittemore guilty of three felony counts: making excessive campaign contributions, making contributions in the name of another, and causing a false statement to be made to the Federal Election Commission.
The jury reported that it was hopelessly deadlocked on the fourth count, making a false statement to the FBI. Senior U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks declared a mistrial on that count. Prosecutors would not say afterward whether they would seek to try Whittemore again on the charge.
Hicks set a Sept. 23 sentencing for Whittemore, who was allowed to remain free on his own recognizance.
Whittemore, 59, an attorney who became a wealthy developer after giving up his lobbying career, showed no emotion as the guilty verdicts were read at the close of the two-week trial.
But at a news conference at his lawyers’ offices, a confident Whittemore remained defiant, promising an appeal.....
Whittemore was indicted in June following an intense FBI investigation into his 2007 fundraising efforts for Reid, his longtime friend. The investigation was first reported by the Review-Journal.
Federal prosecutors alleged that Whittemore met with Reid at an upscale restaurant on the Strip in February 2007 and promised to raise $150,000 for the Nevada Democrat’s re-election campaign.
Whittemore hatched the scheme days before the March 31, 2007, campaign contribution deadline without Reid’s knowledge in a desperate attempt to fulfill his promise to the senator, one of the most powerful members of Congress, prosecutors alleged.
Whittemore was accused of giving money to 29 family members and employees of his former development company, Wingfield Nevada Group, and then using them as “conduits” for illegal contributions to Friends for Harry Reid....
A handwritten note from Reid thanking Whittemore for the contributions was introduced by prosecutors into evidence. In the note, Reid called Whittemore his “friend for today and for all tomorrows.”
The prosecution alleged that Whittemore duped the Reid campaign committee into believing the contributions came from the individuals. Reid was not called to testify at the trial. And he didn’t return phone calls to his office seeking comment Wednesday.
Whittemore actively participated in his defense but did not testify.
Gentile told the jury in his closing argument that Whittemore did not “knowingly” violate campaign contribution laws and did nothing to hide his efforts to raise money for Reid. Whittemore, an experienced campaign fundraiser, would never put his family and trusted employees in “harm’s way,” Gentile argued. http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/crime-courts/whittemore-convicted-making-unlawful-campaign-contributions-reid
If anyone believes that Reid and/or his staff didn't know about the illegal fundraising, then they are living on Fantasy Island. If Reid didn't know about the illegal contributions, then why would he have written a note after all the money is written.
Reid and his staff know everything that goes on in Nevada politics. If Sharron Angle took a potty break while campaigning when she ran against him, Reid would have known about it within 30 seconds.
But the Fed's won't investigate Reid, well, because look who is in charge of the Department of Justice, another Democrat criminal, Eric Holder.
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4 hours ago
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