Chairman of Bush/Cheney Ohio campaign RAIDED by FBI.
---Oh look, the LAW showed up..---
FBI raids Noe's condo, seizes 'some property'
Investigators seek evidence of campaign-fund activity
By MIKE WILKINSON and JAMES DREW
BLADE STAFF WRITERS
The federal probe into whether local Republican fund-raiser Tom Noe was illegally funneling money to the Bush campaign had been ongoing for months. It reached a turning point Wednesday night.
FBI agents swept into Mr. Noe’s Maumee condo about 7:30 p.m., spending three hours scouring the home of one of the most prominent Republicans in northwest Ohio. They were looking for evidence of violations of federal campaign contribution laws.
The federal probe is studying Mr. Noe’s campaign contributions to the President, and specifically contributions made by others who may have received money from Mr. Noe, possibly allowing him to exceed the $2,000 spending cap.
Jon Richardson, Mr. Noe’s attorney, said the search was “very civilized” and that Mr. Noe’s wife, Bernadette, cooperated with agents who removed “some property” from the condo. Mr. Noe was not home at the time of the search.
The search warrant was signed by U.S. Magistrate Vernelis Armstrong. The affadavit that outlines why federal authorities are seeking the warrant has been sealed by the court.
On Wednesday, Gregory A. White, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, confirmed his office is looking into Mr. Noe, who was chairman of the Bush-Cheney campaign in northwest Ohio.
Mr. Richardson said he has advised Mr. Noe not to make any statement to authorities at this time.
Mr. Noe, 50, is a coin dealer and former chairman of the Lucas County Republican Party. He manages two rare-coin funds that have received $50 million from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation.
That investment arrangement is currently under a separate investigation being conducted by the Ohio inspector general.
Mr. Noe also is chairman of the Ohio Turnpike Commission and a member of the Ohio Board of Regents.
He also is chairman of the U.S. Mint’s Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
Yesterday, state Sen. Marc Dann, a Democrat from suburban Youngstown, asked federal, state, and county authorities to investigate whether there were any violations involving state and local campaign contributions.
“It’s becoming clear that Tom Noe has given large contributions to Republicans, while also obtaining state contracts in which he made millions of dollars investing in risky rare coins,” Mr. Dann said.
“Tom Noe has given thousands and thousands of dollars to Republican candidates. Now he’s at the center of a federal probe.
We deserve to know if Noe laundered state party, candidate, and caucus campaign monies to statewide Republicans.” more....
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050429/NEWS24/50429002
---I'll be damned....There really IS a vast right-wing conspiracy.---
FBI raids Noe's condo, seizes 'some property'
Investigators seek evidence of campaign-fund activity
By MIKE WILKINSON and JAMES DREW
BLADE STAFF WRITERS
The federal probe into whether local Republican fund-raiser Tom Noe was illegally funneling money to the Bush campaign had been ongoing for months. It reached a turning point Wednesday night.
FBI agents swept into Mr. Noe’s Maumee condo about 7:30 p.m., spending three hours scouring the home of one of the most prominent Republicans in northwest Ohio. They were looking for evidence of violations of federal campaign contribution laws.
The federal probe is studying Mr. Noe’s campaign contributions to the President, and specifically contributions made by others who may have received money from Mr. Noe, possibly allowing him to exceed the $2,000 spending cap.
Jon Richardson, Mr. Noe’s attorney, said the search was “very civilized” and that Mr. Noe’s wife, Bernadette, cooperated with agents who removed “some property” from the condo. Mr. Noe was not home at the time of the search.
The search warrant was signed by U.S. Magistrate Vernelis Armstrong. The affadavit that outlines why federal authorities are seeking the warrant has been sealed by the court.
On Wednesday, Gregory A. White, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, confirmed his office is looking into Mr. Noe, who was chairman of the Bush-Cheney campaign in northwest Ohio.
Mr. Richardson said he has advised Mr. Noe not to make any statement to authorities at this time.
Mr. Noe, 50, is a coin dealer and former chairman of the Lucas County Republican Party. He manages two rare-coin funds that have received $50 million from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation.
That investment arrangement is currently under a separate investigation being conducted by the Ohio inspector general.
Mr. Noe also is chairman of the Ohio Turnpike Commission and a member of the Ohio Board of Regents.
He also is chairman of the U.S. Mint’s Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
Yesterday, state Sen. Marc Dann, a Democrat from suburban Youngstown, asked federal, state, and county authorities to investigate whether there were any violations involving state and local campaign contributions.
“It’s becoming clear that Tom Noe has given large contributions to Republicans, while also obtaining state contracts in which he made millions of dollars investing in risky rare coins,” Mr. Dann said.
“Tom Noe has given thousands and thousands of dollars to Republican candidates. Now he’s at the center of a federal probe.
We deserve to know if Noe laundered state party, candidate, and caucus campaign monies to statewide Republicans.” more....
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050429/NEWS24/50429002
---I'll be damned....There really IS a vast right-wing conspiracy.---
posted by Christy at 7:48 PM
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