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Rep. Schmidt Must Return $500K to Turkish Coalition of America
asbarez
Monday, August 8th, 2011
Rep. Jean Schmidt
CINCINNATI, Ohio - In a statement released on August 5, the House Ethics
Committee ruled that Rep. Jean Schmidt has received multiple improper
gifts totaling $500,000 from the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA)
between 2008 and 2010. The Committee ruled that Schmidt must pay the
money back. However, she will not face sanctions by the House as she
was able to pin the blame for her behavior on her attorneys Bruce Fein
and David Saltzman.
The Ethics Committee ruling does not clear Schmidt of impropriety - she
must amend her 2009 & 2010 financial disclosures and pay back the
money to the Turkish Coalition of America. Schmidt can no longer
accept impermissible gifts to fund her defamation case against local
Cincinnati businessman David Krikorian. `The Ethics Committee proved
that we were right all along: Rep Schmidt has received a half a
million dollars in improper gifts from the TCA,' said Krikorian.
In turn, Schmidt said in a statement: `As I've stated publicly before,
I neither sought nor intended to accept free legal services... I have
been waiting for the Ethics Committee's advice as to the best way to
pay these bills. Now that I have that advice, I look forward to
continuing to work cooperatively with the Committee to ensure that
these bills are paid appropriately.'
Krikorian considered Schmidt's efforts to plead ignorance `laughable.'
`Personally I find it hard to believe that Jean Schmidt did not know
the facts regarding her own attorneys in legal actions which she
commenced in her own name - I find that to be laughable!' said David
Krikorian. `The American people are tired of Congressmen and
[Congress]women who break the rules and get away with it by blaming
someone else. The people of Ohio's second district deserve better
than an ignorant Congresswoman,' he added.
To read the statement of the House Ethics Committee, click here.
asbarez
Monday, August 8th, 2011
Rep. Jean Schmidt
CINCINNATI, Ohio - In a statement released on August 5, the House Ethics
Committee ruled that Rep. Jean Schmidt has received multiple improper
gifts totaling $500,000 from the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA)
between 2008 and 2010. The Committee ruled that Schmidt must pay the
money back. However, she will not face sanctions by the House as she
was able to pin the blame for her behavior on her attorneys Bruce Fein
and David Saltzman.
The Ethics Committee ruling does not clear Schmidt of impropriety - she
must amend her 2009 & 2010 financial disclosures and pay back the
money to the Turkish Coalition of America. Schmidt can no longer
accept impermissible gifts to fund her defamation case against local
Cincinnati businessman David Krikorian. `The Ethics Committee proved
that we were right all along: Rep Schmidt has received a half a
million dollars in improper gifts from the TCA,' said Krikorian.
In turn, Schmidt said in a statement: `As I've stated publicly before,
I neither sought nor intended to accept free legal services... I have
been waiting for the Ethics Committee's advice as to the best way to
pay these bills. Now that I have that advice, I look forward to
continuing to work cooperatively with the Committee to ensure that
these bills are paid appropriately.'
Krikorian considered Schmidt's efforts to plead ignorance `laughable.'
`Personally I find it hard to believe that Jean Schmidt did not know
the facts regarding her own attorneys in legal actions which she
commenced in her own name - I find that to be laughable!' said David
Krikorian. `The American people are tired of Congressmen and
[Congress]women who break the rules and get away with it by blaming
someone else. The people of Ohio's second district deserve better
than an ignorant Congresswoman,' he added.
To read the statement of the House Ethics Committee, click here.