Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : Anthony @ Equity Investigations, Dear Anthony, -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Smartypts who wrote (66837)	2/8/2001 9:18:32 PM
From: StockDung	Respond to of 122087

Why there is Steve Rebiel in the 2themart.com car which investors may have paid for. VRROMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!! usgpindy.com

To: Smartypts who wrote (66837)	2/23/2001 9:09:17 PM
From: StockDung	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 122087

Torricelli Claims on Leaks to Stay Sealed, Judge Says Newark, New Jersey, Feb. 23 (Bloomberg) -- A federal judge refused a newspaper's request to unseal a motion by U.S. Senator Robert G. Torricelli that accuses the Justice Department of leaking information about its criminal investigation of fundraising in his 1996 campaign. Torricelli, a New Jersey Democrat, filed a sealed motion asking a judge to investigate newspaper disclosures about a Justice Department probe in which six donors have pleaded guilty and three aides have received letters stating that they may be indicted. The Star-Ledger of Newark asked U.S. District Judge John C. Lifland to allow it to intervene so that it could review the Feb. 9 motion by Torricelli. But Lifland ruled today that the allegations must remain under seal because they involved a secret grand jury probe by the Justice Department's Campaign Financing Task Force. ``Absent the grand jury aspect of this case, a United States senator complaining about the conduct of the executive branch would be a matter of intense public interest,'' Lifland ruled. ``But the motion before me is on the nature of a grand jury proceeding, and that puts it in an entirely different light.'' Torricelli is mounting a legal and public relations campaign to depict prosecutors as overzealous in investigating whether he or his aides broke campaign-finance laws in his 1996 race against Republican Dick Zimmer. News Reports Over the past month, the New York Times has reported that three aides who helped him in 1996 -- Adam Crain, Roberta Stern, and David Plouffe -- received government letters notifying them that they are targets of the investigation. The Times also has reported that Crain, Torricelli's chief fundraiser, had solicited contributions from two fugitive businessmen linked to investment frauds. Philippe Hababou pleaded guilty to money laundering and campaign-finance charges and is cooperating with investigators, the newspaper said. Marc A. Rousso also pleaded guilty to money laundering and securities fraud and is cooperating, the Times said. Both guilty pleas are under court seal. Two other newspapers, the Star-Ledger and the Record of Hackensack, New Jersey, also have reported confidential aspects of the task force investigation. Star-Ledger attorney Donald Robinson argued today that the judge should unseal the motion because it only involved Torricelli's allegations, and not confidential grand-jury information. ``You have a United States senator saying `I've been wronged, there's been bad conduct, there's been dirty dealing by the Department of Justice. If you agree with me, look into it and do something about it,''' Robinson said. Behind Closed Doors Lifland excluded Robinson and reporters from a closed-door hearing with a task force prosecutor, Matthew Friedrich, two attorneys for Torricelli, David Barry and Jonathan L. Goldstein, and a lawyer for Crain, Adam F. Hoffinger. When he reopened the courtroom, Lifland said that the government ``very seriously disputed'' the allegations, but it would be inappropriate to disclose them. ``Of course it relates to what's going on in the Department of Justice,'' Lifland said. ``That is what's alleged. But the substance of the claim is it implicates what went on before a grand jury.'' When Robinson asked whether the motion contained Torricelli's views on the case, the judge said: ``I wouldn't characterize them as views. They're allegations.'' Sealed Motion The judge also said a similar sealed motion by a different party is pending without identifying who filed it. After the hearing, Hoffinger would not comment on whether he filed the other motion. Friedrich also declined comment. Barry said that because of instructions he received from the judge, he could not comment. Robinson said the Star-Ledger may appeal. Among the six who pleaded guilty are David Chang, a commodities broker who admitted steering $53,700 in illegal contributions; Lawrence J. Penna, former chief executive of Investors Associates Inc., a defunct New Jersey brokerage; and Charles Koo, who was chief executive of the U.S. unit of LG Group, South Korea's fourth-largest industrial firm. All are cooperating with prosecutors in hopes of receiving leniency at sentencing. Torricelli spokesman Dale Leibach said campaign workers broke no laws. ``We continue to have full confidence in the management and operations of the 1996 campaign,'' Leibach said. ``They don't deserve what has become an investigation without end. It's unfair.'' Feb/23/2001 16:44 ET For more stories from Bloomberg News, click here. (C) Copyright 2001 Bloomberg L.P.