To: microhoogle! who wrote (34160 ) 9/1/2000 3:46:08 PM From: jlallen Respond to mediaresearch.org Michael Barone examined Gore’s attitude regarding union corruption: "More disturbing are the questions about Gore's attitude toward union corruption raised by his campaign's closeness to figures convicted or implicated in violations of law revolving around the hotly contested election for Teamsters union president in 1996. That election ultimately resulted in the ouster of incumbent Ron Carey, a strong supporter of AFL-CIO head John Sweeney, and the election of James P. Hoffa. But not before pro-Carey union officials and consultants Martin Davis, Jere Nash, and Michael Ansara siphoned $885,000 out of the union treasury in a scheme to reimburse others for contributions to the Carey campaign. All three pleaded guilty in 1997; unusually, none has yet been sentenced. In November 1997, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka took the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer investigators' questions whether he had procured $150,000 from the Teamsters treasury which, three days later, resulted in $100,000 to Carey campaign consultants. Under a rule dating to the Teamster scandals of the 1950s, AFL-CIO officials were removed from office after taking the Fifth; Sweeney said the rule didn't apply to Trumka, who remains secretary-treasurer––and a prominent supporter of Gore. Trumka flew to Iowa to campaign for Gore in the January caucuses, and he got a featured speaking spot at the Los Angeles convention."
