Pete Sessions told Allen Stanford that he loved him.
And he is not giving him his ring back.
Texas Congressman Pete Sessions
Just hours after federal agents charged banker Allen Stanford with fleecing investors of $7 billion in a Ponzi scheme, the criminal financier received a message from one of Congress’ most powerful members, Pete Sessions, Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. “I love you and believe in you,” said the e-mail sent on February 17, 2010. “If you want my ear/voice — e-mail,” it said, signed “Pete.”
In June, federal officials charged Allen Stanford, chairman of the Stanford Financial Group, with fraud.
Federal officials are now investigating $2.3 million in campaign contributions that Stanford gave members of Congress, including Sessions. Justice Department investigators are now looking to see whether Stanford was given special treatment by lawmakers he supported. Sessions received $44,375 from Stanford and his firm.
FBI Agents are examining campaign dollars, as well as lavish Caribbean trips funded by Stanford for other politicians and their spouses, feting them with lobster dinners and caviar. The money Stanford gave Sessions and other lawmakers was stolen from Stanford clients and fleeced investors.
Would you tell this man you loved him?
Most lawmakers have not returned donations from Stanford despite pleadings from a federal receiver who is trying to get the money back for the defrauded investors. The federal receiver is seeking more than $1.8 million in contributions from Stanford, his top corporate lieutenants and employees of his offshore bank and affiliated financial services companies.
“The funds used to make these contributions came directly from defrauded investors,” said Kristie Blumenschein, a spokeswoman for the federal receiver. “Such payments were fraudulent transfers, and the receiver has requested that the funds be returned to the receivership estate as soon as possible.” The receiver first asked for the money in February 2009. But only about $88,000 has been returned to the receiver who was appointed to recover Stanford’s far-flung assets and return as much money as possible to investors.
The National Republican Congressional Committee received $238,500 from Stanford and has not returned a penny.
Previous post on this subject:
Dissecting Allen Stanford http://www.johnbrianfastcpa.com/994/dissecting-allen-stanford/