Repub. Congressman Implicated in Bank Fraud (NC)

[gdgibson]

This has national implications in that it looks as if the DoJ may have refused to investigate a Republican member of congress for political reasons. Combine this with what's going on in Texas and you get the impression that Karl Rove is prepared to scrap it out for every possible seat.


http://newsobserver.com/news/story/2673040p-2478513c.html




Congressman Taylor is implicated by banker's testimony.


Sunday, July 6, 2003 12:00AM EDT

Taylor linked to loan fraud


By PAT STITH, Staff Writer


In 2000 and 2001, the former president of an obscure bank in the western end of North Carolina admitted to FBI agents that he had
violated federal banking laws. He also implicated 11th District U.S. Rep. Charles H. Taylor of Brevard , who founded Blue Ridge Savings Bank and was chairman of its board of directors.

The banker, Hayes C. Martin of Asheville, and a major borrower, Charles E. "Chig " Cagle, a political confidant of Taylor, have pleaded
guilty to scheming together to defraud the bank and launder money. In FBI interviews, Cagle also said Taylor was involved.

In April, Martin and Cagle testified against the lawyer who helped put the loan packages together. The lawyer, Thomas W. Jones, was
convicted of bank fraud. All three now await sentencing. Taylor, however, has not been charged. He was not subpoenaed before the federal grand jury that indicted the others. And the FBI hasn't interviewed him.

Lawyers for Jones are pressing their own case about why investigators have not questioned the congressman. They have filed an
unusual motion in federal court that raises questions about whether a Republican administration in Washington stopped the FBI from
investigating a Republican congressman.

The defense attorneys allege that U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft or his assistants prohibited the FBI, the IRS and the U.S.
attorney for the Western District of North Carolina from interrogating Taylor before a federal grand jury. Taylor sits on the House
Appropriations Committee and a subcommittee that controls the Justice Department's budget.

[myrna minx]

1. Wait, Wait, isn't it "liberty fraud"

if it is committed a Repub? :eyes: Their hubris know no bounds. Or as rummy would say..."They have freedom, freedom to commit crimes. "

[revcarol]

2. BINGO!!

Why am I not surprised ...at the fraud...and at the refusal to investigate.

[GainesT1958]

3. Charles Taylor also got in trouble in 2000...

For non-payment of property taxes...this guy has a strong Nixon streak in him...he really DOES think that he's above the law!:mad:

I just hope that this one will be enough to do Taylor in...our (N.C.) Agriculture Commissioner, Meg Scott-Phipps, got in trouble for lying about campaign contributions, was forced to resign, and then was indicted by the U.S. Attorney. Ashcroft obviously thinks that justice applies only to Democrats gone astray...does the word "Westar" have any relevance here? :eyes:

B-)