Galloway faces US court action over Iraq cash claims

[cal04]

GEORGE GALLOWAY was referred to US prosecutors last night by a Senate committee that said there was “probable cause” to believe that he lied to Congress about his role in the UN Oil-for-Food scandal. Democrats joined Republicans on the Senate subcommittee on Investigations in forwarding the case to the US Justice Department and prosecutors for potential prosecution. The decision came after the discovery by Senate investigators of a payment of $150,000 (£84,000) in Iraqi oil proceeds to the MP’s now-estranged wife, Amina Naji Abu Zayyad.

Investigators also traced $446,000 in Iraqi oil money to the Respect MP’s anti-sanctions Mariam Appeal, originally set up to pay for medical treatment in Britain of an Iraqi girl suffering from leukaemia. The Senate panel said the evidence called “into question the veracity of sworn testimony” given by Mr Galloway at his confrontation with senators in May, in which he denied any involvement in Iraqi oil sales.

Senator Norm Coleman, the panel’s Republican chairman, called the payment of Iraqi oil money to Mr Galloway’s wife “a smoking gun”. Democrats joined the committee’s Republican majority in referring the case to the Justice Department and prosecutors in New York and Washington.

Since Mr Galloway’s testimony, the subcommittee has obtained evidence indicating the Mr Galloway made false or misleading statements under oath at the hearing,” the panel said in a letter to the US Attorney-General. “We have determined that there is reasonable cause to believe that violations of law may have occurred.” Congressional aides say Mr Galloway could face prosecution in America for perjury, making false statements or obstructing a Congressional proceeding. In making its referral, the panel also noted that illicit kickbacks were paid on Iraqi oil sales linked to Mr Galloway in violation of UN sanctions. It did not, however, present any evidence that he knew of them. Last night Ron McKay, a spokesman for the MP, said: “George welcomes this. He has demanded it and is glad to know something is happening.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1857470,00.html

[leftchick]

1. all my money is on George in a landslide....

normie can go pound something or other!

[texpatriot2004]

3. I agree. nm

[fooj]

4. Yep. He's a jackass.

My $ is on Galloway, too.

Peace.

[malaise]

2. Fugg that n/t

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Norm's revenge for when Galloway made of fool of him during hearings.

[whirlygigspin]

6. another senator that needs defeating

Norm "McCarthy" Coleman is out for personal revenge against him, what a disgrace to the fine people of Minnesota he is

[Sinistrous]

7. Apparently Sen. Coleman couldn't get Mr. Galloway to fly on a small plane

so he decided to take the legal persecution (sic) route.

Aaah, the price of bruising little Normie's enormous ego.

Sinistrous

[Judi Lynn]

17. God forbid the Magnificent Coleman should be offended.

Norm's got dangerous friends.

[donkeyotay]

21. That fourth picture down is vile and nasty

And reminded me that I really miss Senator Wellstone, the conscience of the senate. I'm thinking he would have led a successful opposition to the war, if only his plane hadn't crashed... in an accident that, officially, was not caused by the weather.

[hootinholler]

8. So, we can investigate wether or not a British MP lied to congress,

But not if our own SecDef, or SecState, or NatSecAdvisor, or President lied to congress?

FMH!
-Hoot

[0007]

19. That is a hoot, isn't it?

But then again anything can go in a third world country. And it appears the U.S. is beginning to look and act like one.

[wookie294]

9. Norm Coleman said Tarik Aziz provided evidence against Galloway

But Aziz later denied he provided any such evidence.

Coleman's investigation smells like a fraud.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. Tarik Aziz. The Pillar of Truth.

[stillcool]

10. Maybe Mr. Galloway....

will add another spark to the fire under the cabal's ass....burn, baby, burn!!

[Dinger]

12. When/Where Will This Be Televised? (nt)

[daleo]

13. After the trial, he should sue for malicious prosecution. n/t

[rooboy]

14. I predict the ultimate irony coming.

Galloway will be found to have received no payments from Saddam, but will eventually receive payments from Norm Coleman.

[Stockholm]

16. Ding ding

These people are deliciously stupid.

[Pachamama]

18. Me thinks your right....

Ole Norm is going to find himself in the future as not only an ex-Senator, but a poor one making installment payments....

:rofl:

I don't think this is going to play out the way ole Norm hopes it will...au contraire...I think Galloway will make the last whipping look like a love pat....

[Marshall McClueless]

15. Seems pretty foolish.

All it does is give Galloway another opportunity to kick ass.

[emad]

20. BBC coverage:

SNIP:

Both Republican and Democrat members of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations announced they had referred the report to the British authorities that had requested access to its evidence.

These included the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner and the Charity Commission.

------------------------------

The committee said it had referred the report to, among others, the US Justice Department, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the US Attorney for the District of Columbia and the District Attorney for New York County.

In the UK, it said it also requested that the US Embassy forward it to "other entities of competent jurisdiction that may be interested in the evidence", such as the Home Office, HM Revenue & Customs, and the Royal Courts of Justice.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4406322.stm






SelectTories make choice after TV clashClarke pressed on terror adviceGalloway reported over oil claimsBlair talks tough on terror plansMoD stands by Iraq murder trialInquiry condemns Deepcut policeCompensation 'fears gripping UK'Warning over phone tap evidenceSecurity made me miss vote - MPTerror plan branded as 'nonsense'Hutton chosen to replace BlunkettLords throw out key asylum rule'Bad news buried' claim Lib DemsIn depth: Party conferences 2005Labour conference at-a-glanceLib Dem conference at-a-glanceElection 2005Budget 2005A-Z of ParliamentThe UK and the EUWho's who: CabinetWho's who: Shadow CabinetWho's who: Lib Dem front benchLinks to UK political websites

OIL-FOR-FOOD SCANDAL


KEY STORIES


Iraq scandal taints 2,000 firms
Aziz denies oil claims - Galloway
Annan accepts oil-for-food lapses
Oil-for-food chief 'took bribes'
UN veteran fired over scandal
Galloway takes on US oil accusers


BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS

Body blow
The UN's third report leaves the agency even more vulnerable, writes Jonathan Beale.


Q&A: Oil-for-food
Who are the Senate sleuths?
Timeline: Oil-for-food scandal
Key reports and responses
Companies in 'oil-for-food scam'
The Annans: Father and son


IN DEPTH


The struggle for Iraq





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TOP POLITICS STORIES NOW
Tories make choice after TV clash

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