Post by Libyan Sibyl on Oct 11, 2007 16:38:15 GMT -5
Business as usual... and as was usual
FBI "looking into" Torricelli donations
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/11/07
BY JONATHAN TAMARI
GANNETT STATE BUREAU
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TRENTON — The FBI's San Juan office is looking into accusations that former U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli and executives from a Fort Lee managed health care company used political donations to win support for regulatory changes that helped their business in Puerto Rico.
The allegations came in the wake of a New York Times story in August that reported how Torricelli and other executives from Aveta Inc., a company that manages Medicare health plans, donated a combined $16,000 to Puerto Rico's nonvoting member of Congress, Luis Fortuno. Fortuno reportedly lobbied for rules changes that opened up competition for Medicare services in Puerto Rico, where Aveta has won contracts.
"We're looking into the matter," said Harry Rodriguez, a spokesman in the FBI's San Juan office. But Rodriguez would not call the probe an "investigation."
The inquiry was sparked by a political opponent of Fortuno, a Republican, and a spokesman for Torricelli said the former senator would be cleared.
"Senator Torricelli is confident this review will find absolutely no wrongdoing whatsoever," said Sean Jackson, a spokesman for Torricelli.
The Times reported that $4,000 Torricelli gave Fortuno's campaign came from the money the former senator had raised for re-election in 2002. Torricelli dropped his bid after being "severely admonished' by the Senate ethics committee for accepting gifts from a political contributor.
The probe comes amid speculation U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, DN.J., is blocking President Bush's nomination for Puerto Rico's U.S. Attorney's office. The anonymous hold was first reported Sept. 20 by The Hill, a newspaper that covers Congress.
Bush's nominee, Rosa Rodriguez-Velez, has recused herself from the investigation into Fortuno, turning the matter over to the FBI, because Fortuno may lobby in Washington for her confirmation.
Asked yesterday in Newark about the reported hold and Torricelli's case, Menendez said, "I don't have anything to do with Torricelli in any way, shape or form. That's the best way to deal with that."
He would not comment directly on whether he is blocking the nomination.
"I have a principled position of not talking about holds or speculation about holds on judicial nominations," Menendez said.
He then speculated that Republicans could be blocking the nomination.
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071011/NEWS03/710110504/1007/
FBI "looking into" Torricelli donations
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/11/07
BY JONATHAN TAMARI
GANNETT STATE BUREAU
Post Comment
TRENTON — The FBI's San Juan office is looking into accusations that former U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli and executives from a Fort Lee managed health care company used political donations to win support for regulatory changes that helped their business in Puerto Rico.
The allegations came in the wake of a New York Times story in August that reported how Torricelli and other executives from Aveta Inc., a company that manages Medicare health plans, donated a combined $16,000 to Puerto Rico's nonvoting member of Congress, Luis Fortuno. Fortuno reportedly lobbied for rules changes that opened up competition for Medicare services in Puerto Rico, where Aveta has won contracts.
"We're looking into the matter," said Harry Rodriguez, a spokesman in the FBI's San Juan office. But Rodriguez would not call the probe an "investigation."
The inquiry was sparked by a political opponent of Fortuno, a Republican, and a spokesman for Torricelli said the former senator would be cleared.
"Senator Torricelli is confident this review will find absolutely no wrongdoing whatsoever," said Sean Jackson, a spokesman for Torricelli.
The Times reported that $4,000 Torricelli gave Fortuno's campaign came from the money the former senator had raised for re-election in 2002. Torricelli dropped his bid after being "severely admonished' by the Senate ethics committee for accepting gifts from a political contributor.
The probe comes amid speculation U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, DN.J., is blocking President Bush's nomination for Puerto Rico's U.S. Attorney's office. The anonymous hold was first reported Sept. 20 by The Hill, a newspaper that covers Congress.
Bush's nominee, Rosa Rodriguez-Velez, has recused herself from the investigation into Fortuno, turning the matter over to the FBI, because Fortuno may lobby in Washington for her confirmation.
Asked yesterday in Newark about the reported hold and Torricelli's case, Menendez said, "I don't have anything to do with Torricelli in any way, shape or form. That's the best way to deal with that."
He would not comment directly on whether he is blocking the nomination.
"I have a principled position of not talking about holds or speculation about holds on judicial nominations," Menendez said.
He then speculated that Republicans could be blocking the nomination.
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071011/NEWS03/710110504/1007/