Kerry was Swiftboated. And, of course, the "Big Dog" was saddled with Whitewater and the death list/Clinton Chronicles. But the wingnuts are obviously deciding that it isn't too early to start on Hillary. (Disclosure: I am undecided on who to support . . . except it will be a Democrat.
I learned about this Hillary smear from a wingnut I often debate on another board, it may have been diaried before, but the fact that it is becoming an object to cite in wingnutville means we may need to know about it. It involves allegations that Hillary has committed a felony and details . . . with links . . . are below the fold.
The so-called "Hillary Clinton Accountability Project" (HCAP) alleges that Hillary's 2000 Senatorial Campaign took part in "the largest case of campaign fraud in US history."
HCAP is a special project of the United States Justice Foundation (USJF). From the cases/issues they have been involved with, USJF appears to be part of the extremist, anti-immigrant, pro-political assassination (Pat Robertson?) wing of the GOP. While Sourcewatch has a LINK for USJF, there is little information on their sources of funding.
Anyway, the allegations they are pitching have been picked up by the usual suspects in the smear train, for example World Net Daily.
The gist is this . . . A convicted felon named Peter Franklin Paul (he currently awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to a 10(b)5 violation of the Securities and Exchange Commission for not publicly disclosing his control of Merrill Lynch margin accounts that held Stan Lee Media stocks and for certain transactions in mid-November 2000 to keep the stock from losing value) claims that he has videos (which appear to be of him sitting listening on speaker phone) that his lawyer calls "smoking-gun evidence" of the her commission of a series of felonies, each punishable by up to five years in prison.
From the World Net "article":
Paul contends he was directed by the Clintons and Democratic Party leaders to foot the bill for a lavish Hollywood gala and fund-raiser prior to the 2000 election that eventually cost him nearly $2 million.
Sen. Clinton has claimed through her spokesman Howard Wolfson that Paul gave no money to her campaign, and her supporters have denied she had any anything to do with coordinating the August 2000 event or soliciting contributions directly from donors. Doing so would make Paul's substantial contributions a direct donation to her Senate campaign rather than her joint fundraising committee, violating federal statutes that limit "hard money" contributions to a candidate to $2,000 per person. Furthermore, knowingly accepting or soliciting $25,000 or more in a calendar year is a felony carrying a prison sentence of up to five years.
Anyway, back when the article was first published (April 21, 2007), this convicted felon was saying he would make the entire video public within 30 days. My guess is the "leaks" about its existence are to build some legitimate media interest and give the story legs. (And I am truly sorry if I am helping.)
But, in perhaps yet another example of Gonzales' DoJ incompetence, according to the article:"The tape was one of 90 Paul was ordered to turn over to the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York in 2001 as part of the investigation in a related securities case against him." If these tapes are SO damning . . . why no indictment. Anybody hear Swiftboats in the distance?