White House Denies Charge By Attorney that Administration Threatened to Destroy Inves

[Triad]

WH Chrysler Threat Scadal.

A leading bankruptcy attorney representing hedge funds and money managers told ABC News Saturday that Steve Rattner, the leader of the Obama administration's Auto Industry Task Force, threatened one of the firms, an investment bank, that if it continued to oppose the administration's Chrysler bankruptcy plan, the White House would use the White House press corps to destroy its reputation.

White House Denies Charge By Attorney that Administration Threatened to Destroy Investment Firm's Reputation* - Political Punch

Original Interview-
Frank talks with Tom Lauria, who represents a group of lenders that object to the Chrysler sale:
News/Talk 760 WJR

Video of Tom Lauria explaining what occured-
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEze-DeDTSE"]YouTube - ATTY Who Says WH Threatened Chrysler Creditors Wont Say He's NOT Lying![/ame]
(after the legal no comment stuff at the start)

Obama did use these creditors as his punching bag in the press conference in which he announced Chrysler was filing bankruptcy.


If it pans out its a Felony crime and beyond doubt grounds for impeachment.
This is the stuff organized crime figures end up in jail for decades for.

(I'm rather amazed such a potentially HUGE scandal like this was not already posted...I changed the title because the original from the first link is too long)

 

[Triad]

Re: White House Denies Charge By Attorney that Administration Threatened to Destroy I

New Allegations Of White House Threats Over Chrysler

Creditors to Chrysler describe negotiations with the company and the Obama administration as "a farce," saying the administration was bent on forcing their hands using hardball tactics and threats.

Conversations with administration officials left them expecting that they would be politically targeted, two participants in the negotiations said.

Although the focus has so been on allegations that the White House threatened Perella Weinberg, sources familiar with the matter say that other firms felt they were threatened as well. None of the sources would agree to speak except on the condition of anonymity, citing fear of political repercussions.

The sources, who represent creditors to Chrysler, say they were taken aback by the hardball tactics that the Obama administration employed to cajole them into acquiescing to plans to restructure Chrysler. One person described the administration as the most shocking "end justifies the means" group they have ever encountered. Another characterized Obama was "the most dangerous smooth talker on the planet- and I knew Kissinger." Both were voters for Obama in the last election.

One participant in negotiations said that the administration's tactic was to present what one described as a "madman theory of the presidency" in which the President is someone to be feared because he was willing to do anything to get his way. The person said this threat was taken very seriously by his firm.

The White House has denied the allegation that it threatened Perella Weinberg.

Last week Obama singled out the firms that continue to oppose his plan for Chrysler, saying he would not stand with them. Perella Weinberg says it was convinced to support the plan by this stark drawing of a line between firms that have the president's backing and those that did not. They didn't want to be on the wrong side of Obama. Privately, administration officials have expressed confidence that other firms will switch sides for this reason.

These allegations add to the picture of an administration willing to use intimidation to win over support for its Chrysler plans--and then categorically deny it.

White House Accused Of Chrysler Threats


Just more info.

 

[Polynikes]

Re: White House Denies Charge By Attorney that Administration Threatened to Destroy I

I don't know why anyone who has knowledge of Obama's rise through Illinois and in particular Chicago politics would be surprised they attempted to play hardball with Chrysler. Look at the people he has surrounding him, do a little research in to the personality of Rahm Emanuel.

I'm not surprised whatsoever.

 

[Harshaw]

Re: White House Denies Charge By Attorney that Administration Threatened to Destroy I

Well, one of the staples of Chicago-way politics is using a scorched-earth campaign to destroy your opponents. It isn't enough merely to win.

 

[Triad]

Re: White House Denies Charge By Attorney that Administration Threatened to Destroy I

Its not simply 'hardball' negotiations... its intimidation via threat.

There's a difference between a negotiating hard and threatening people with acts such as that described.

Its basically extortion coupled with racketeering. There is another more focused law that it violates but I cannot recall what its called atm. They are all Felony Crimes.

With the press conference Obama had doing what the person who alleges these activities says..makes Obama not only responsible do to "the buck stops here" but also a willing party to a felony crime.



Makes Bill's lying under oath look cute in comparison.

 

[WillRockwell]

Re: White House Denies Charge By Attorney that Administration Threatened to Destroy I

"Have you been lying?"
"I'm not gonna comment on that."

That's a little weird

 

[Triad]

Re: White House Denies Charge By Attorney that Administration Threatened to Destroy I

"Have you been lying?"
"I'm not gonna comment on that."

That's a little weird

Wee bit lacking in context as well.

Beginning of the interview she tries to ask him a question that goes down a line that infringes on his relationship (in a legal sense) to a client(s).

At the end of the interview he catches her trying to ask basically the same line of questioning as in the beginning.

It the inbetween parts that are important.

anyway..



If the base of it all holds up. IOW extortion, etc are valid descriptions.
Would you consider that grounds for impeachment of ANY President?

To take it further.
If that President had instructed such actions.
Would that be grounds to impeach?