Cornyn Took Caribbean Junket On Stanford's Dime (w/unidentified companion!)

[dkf]

Back in 2004, Sir Allen Stanford's company flew Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and an unidentified companion down to Antigua -- home base for Stanford International Bank, which the SEC now says can't account for $8 billion in holdings -- for three days of "financial services industry fact-finding."

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/02/cornyn_took_caribbean_junket_on_stanfords_dime.php

By Zachary Roth - February 17, 2009, 2:20PM

So we already knew that Allen Stanford -- the Texas banker charged by the SEC today with running an $8 billion "fraud of shocking magnitude" -- had some pretty impressive political contacts with both parties.

But it looks like his relationship with one of his home-state senators, Republican John Cornyn, may have been especially cozy.

According to Cornyn's Senate disclosure reports -- posted on the site Legistorm.com, which tracks privately financed trips by members of Congress -- the Stanford Financial Group paid for the Texas senator and an unnamed companion to take a November 2004 trip down to Antigua and Barbuda, the tiny Carribean nation where the company has its headquarters.

The three day trip is described by Legistorm as a "financial services industry fact-finding mission hosted by constituent company with substantial operations on site."

The site adds:

Sen. Cornyn discloses expenses for himself and a companion, but does not disclose the identity of the companion.

[monmouth]

1. Oh I must get more butter....n/t

[Qutzupalotl]

24. Coincidentally, so does Cornyn's "companion".

:7

[MineralMan]

2. Uh-oh....Cornwine better watch his back...

And who was this "companion" going with him to a tropical paradise? And what was the substance of his "fact-finding?" Can we read his report on the trip?

I mean, those are some of the questions a guy might ask.

[dkf]

7. Form is here.

http://www.legistorm.com/pdf/20356.html

It doesn't actually ask who the companion is. I wonder why that isn't required?

[MineralMan]

8. I saw that form.

Why the "companion" isn't named is interesting. It should be available, though, from the flight manifest, or from some DHS documents, which should be available with a subpoena from the Ethics Committee, I'd think.

It's probably some assistant from his office, but who knows. Could be someone he'd like to keep anonymous. Shall we break the anonymity, via our legislators? Hmmmm...?

[MineralMan]

9. Will Cornwine's name appear on the investors' list?

I wonder if the date of a deposit coincides with his "fact-findin" mission there? I also wonder if miscellaneous deposits might have been made on the behalf of other lawmakers and such...you know...wink, wink, nod nod?

Perhaps we'll learn more in time. The only trouble might come if some (D) names show up on the list as well.

[dkf]

11. No lodging expense for companion.

Not sure what that means either.

They could have shared a room or maybe the companion paid their own lodging?

[MineralMan]

13. It's almost certain that the companion shared the room...

thereby eliminated that expense category. Now, did the companion share a bed, too? Inquiring minds, and all that...

[dkf]

14. After all this speculation its probably his wife. lol.

Still...

[MineralMan]

17. But that's no fun. And why wouldn't her name be there?

I'm thinking not his wife.

[malaise]

20. While we're studying the Corn dog

pay attention to the donations to Sessions.

[hamsterjill]

10. Yeah, Cornyn...

Remember what Hillary told you. The Clinton's don't forget!!!

[malaise]

3. Check this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5071366&mesg_id=5071366

[thevoiceofreason]

4. Please please let's disable the Corndog

That would be better than a stimulus package - hell, it would be a stimulus package!

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

5. k _n_ r

:kick:

[benld74]

6. I"M SHOCKED!! SHOCKED I TELL YOU!!

[DemoTex]

12. Maybe Cornyn traveled incognito as a box turtle.

[malaise]

15. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

:rofl:

[dkf]

16. lol.

Oh gosh that gets a great big belly laugh.

[spanone]

18. 8 years of unfettered corruption..we may never recover

[malaise]

19. Across the globe to boot

I was thinking the same thing - will this planet be able to clean up all this corruption.

[MineralMan]

21. And most of it done in collusion with the freaking Repugnicants.

Let's dig it all out, display it for all to see, and put the GOP in prison.

Evil, greedy, MF-ers!

[onethatcares]

22. Antigua is a pretty nice place

been to one of the Sandals there. The water is clear, the rum is good and if you ever go, enjoy.

[spanone]

23. offshore tax-shelter i suspect

[Winterblues]

25. Did this companion have security clearance?

Who did this companion work for and what was their motivation for traveling with a US Senator. Was there espionage involved and how would we know? Was sex traded for favors? I suppose there are more questions that should be asked and answered as well.