Sen. Clinton's Lawyers Seek to Halt Fraud Suit

By Fred Lucas
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
March 27, 2007

(CNSNews.com) - Attorneys for Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) are trying to keep her out of a lawsuit that may ultimately force her to testify under oath about an alleged violation of campaign finance laws.

Washington lawyers David Kendall and Carolyn Utrecht and Los Angeles attorney Jan B. Norman -- all representing the apparent frontrunner for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination -- filed legal briefs Friday in the California Court of Appeals focusing heavily on the criminal background of plaintiff Peter Paul, the Hollywood businessman who is suing both Bill and Hillary Clinton and others.

Paul alleges that fraudulent actions by the Clintons and others cost him his multi-million dollar Internet venture. Paul claims to have been the largest contributor to Sen. Clinton's U.S. Senate campaign, spending $1.9 million to hold a 2000 fundraising gala attended by Hollywood celebrities including Whoopi Goldberg, John Travolta and Brad Pitt.

In return, Paul claims, then-President Bill Clinton promised to promote the firm. However, the president allegedly reneged on the commitment after his wife was elected in November of that year and used his influence to discourage others from investing in the firm.

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200703/POL20070327b.html

Comment: Sleaze evident on both sides here. Paul is an ex-felon with unrealistic expectations about what his money could do for him, IMO. Clinton, many will recall, has already been reprimanded by the FEC for substantially underreporting the amount of cash raised at the fundraiser. A cautionary tale on the hazards of taking money from anyone and everyone, IMO.