According to
Raw Story, the September issue of
Vanity Fair is carrying a story about our favorite whistleblower, Sibel Edmonds. And in this piece is the stunning news
that:
"...she reported hearing Turkish wiretap targets boast that they had a covert relationship with...Dennis Hastert, Republican congressman from Illinois and Speaker of the House since 1999. The targets reportedly discussed giving Hastert tens of thousands of dollars in surreptitious payments in exchange for political favors and information..."
That's right...our esteemed Speaker of the House, apparently known as "Denny boy" in certain Turkish circles, is frequently mentioned on the wiretaps from an FBI investigation into covert activities by Turkish nationals.
With revelations like this slowly but surely leaking out, the question by Ms. Edmonds ACLU attorney takes on a new urgency:
"Just what in the world is the government trying to hide?"
What indeed?
And what do the wiretaps say?
"One name, however, apparently stood out--a man the Turkish callers often referred to by the nickname "Denny boy." It was the Republican congressman from Illinois and Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert. According to some of the wiretaps, the FBI's targets had arranged for thousands of dollars to be paid to Hastert's campaign funds in small checks.
According to Edmonds, Hastert's voice is never heard on the tapes and she has told investigators that it's possible that the claims were merely "hollow boasts". Perhaps so, but a more thorough examination of Hastert is certainly warranted, IMO.
Another incident that is frequently mentioned on the tapes occurred in October, 2000. Minutes before the scheduled full House vote on a resolution strongly opposed by Turkey, Hastert withdrew it. Although Vanity Fair said there was no evidence of a payment being made for the withdrawal,
"... a senior official at the Turkish Consulate is said to have claimed in one recording that the price for Hastert to withdraw the resolution would have been at least $50,000."
Now that this damning information is out there, I shall relax and wait for the congressional investigation...and wait...and wait...