Sanders adviser was convicted of union embezzling

[BainsBane]

Chuck Rocha pleaded guilty in 2013 to stealing funds from the United Steelworkers union.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/bernie-sanders-union-embezzle-campaign-consultant-218567#ixzz3zndl4WpO

A consultant for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign was convicted of embezzling money from a labor union three years ago, after he was caught stealing funds from the United Steelworkers, according to court records.

Chuck Rocha, whose firm Solidarity Strategies has brought in $204,000 from the Sanders campaign, was hired to extend the Vermont senator's reach into the Latino community. Court and Labor Department records claim that he used the union's money to buy Stanley Cup Finals tickets and pay for golf trips to Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Florida.


Rocha pleaded guilty in 2013 to one felony count of union embezzlement for stealing funds from the United Steelworkers union in 2008 and 2009, when he was its political director. He also “acknowledged responsibility for the other 17 counts,” according to the Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. His plea deal barred him from working as an officer or agent at a labor organization until 2026.

Rocha wasn't a merely a rank-and-file member of the Steelworkers back then: Political directors are the main points of contact between union leadership and policymakers, and they often have unfettered access to union coffers. Rocha managed a $30 million budget in his position, according to an online biography.

[beam me up scottie]

1. Yes we know it's been posted half a dozen times.

[AtomicKitten]

2. ... just another distraction from issues that matter in our lives

[beam me up scottie]

4. Well we knew they were going to pull out the kitchen sink after last night.

If this is all the "dirt" they can find on Bernie they're in bigger trouble than they think.

[BainsBane]

5. This doesn't matter

but something Clinton said in the 1990s does? God forbid the public be allowed to know anything about the candidates running for office. Well, at least one of them. Better to wait until he's the nominee so the GOP can bury him as soon as they come out of the gate.

Shall we just stipulate now that nothing Sanders or his staff does or says can even possibly "matter" because he is perfection itself, whereas every breath Clinton takes is an act of evil?

[AtomicKitten]

10. You don't want to get into a "company they keep" pissing contest.

You will lose.

[beam me up scottie]

13. No kidding. I just used two examples downthread.

[AtomicKitten]

14. Henry Kissinger FFS.

[beam me up scottie]

16. Yep, his hands are some of the bloodiest in recent history.

[BainsBane]

20. I wasn't aware the Clinton campaign had Kissinger on staff

Because they don't. This isn't about being in the same room at a State Department function with someone. It is who he hires to represent his campaign.

[AtomicKitten]

21. Kissinger has served as an advisor to her in the same capacity as the adviser your OP references.

http://www.salon.com/2016/01/12/emails_expose_close_ties_between_hillary_clinton_and_accused_war_criminal_henry_kissinger/

[arcane1]

33. What a shock, that your post has not been replied to!

[Arazi]

39. Obama keeps Petraeus as an "advisor" so yeah, I guess if convicted criminals

aren't a problem with him, then this is faux outrage

The guy served his time and paid his penalty. If it's ok with Obama, it's ok with Sanders.

[treestar]

41. So now it is OK for Obama and Hillary too

You label it faux outrage, so it's faux outrage regarding the objected to persons in Hillary's and Obama's squads too.

[jehop61]

11. Doncha know

Bernie supporters go "la la la la la, can't hear you" and place their hands over their ears whenever anyone has a question about their hero.

[BainsBane]

3. I did a search and found no such post

[SamKnause]

6. Thank you for the post.

Very informative article.

Not a choice I would have made.

[beam me up scottie]

8. He's the President and Founder of Solidarity Strategies, a minority owned firm.

DNC Supplier Diversity List
http://directory.democrats.org/solidarity-strategies/

DNC Supplier Diversity List

Solidarity Strategies

Chuck, is the President and Founder of Solidarity Strategies. Solidarity is a minority owned and operated full service, political consulting firm located in Washington, DC. Solidarity takes Chuck Rocha’s 25 years of political campaign experience to specialize in voter contact through Mail, Phones and Digital advertising services. Our clients include federal and state candidates for office, Pac’s, 501-c4 and 501 c3?s.

Solidarity Strategies is also a full service government affairs firm specializing in grassroots mobilization, PAC development, Latino strategy, coalition building and lobbying. Chuck brings his 6 years of service on the board of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute board, and his long term relationships members in Congress through 25 years of campaign and issue advocacy work.

Solidarity Strategies is a MBE certified minority vendor/supplier.

[BainsBane]

9. There are minority owned firms

not run by self-admitted embezzlers. Just an FYI.

[beam me up scottie]

12. If you want to compare associates let's start with the misogynistic pig David Brock.

Who helped destroy Anita Hill for sport.

And then we'll move on to Henry Kissinger the war criminal.

I'm sure there are dozens of others who could be used to push the guilt by association fallacy but you probably don't want to go there.

[BainsBane]

17. You really specialize in non-sequiturs

and ad hominems.

David Brock is not a minority, as far as I'm aware. Well actually he is a minority in that he's a white male, but not in the way you meant it.

[beam me up scottie]

18. Who said he was a minority?

I thought we were playing Guilt by Association?

Did the rules change?

[arcane1]

29. I thought being gay was a minority too.

[forest444]

32. Not to mention the very enterprising Peter Paul.

Who was Hillary's top campaign contributor during her 2000 Senate race, before his indictments on numerous million-dollar fraud cases (including, most famously, against legendary comics artist Stan Lee) became public.

I also mention this because, as we all know, the Peter Paul scandal can be recited verbatim by just about every Rethuglican you can find - even functionally illiterate people. If Hillary's nominated, this will become a major liability for Democrats up and down the ballot in the same way John Zaccaro was for the ill-fated Mondale-Ferraro ticket.

[treestar]

42. None actually arrested and convicted

You're going on guilty until proven innocent for the people you accuse while dismissing someone actually accused and convicted.

[beam me up scottie]

43. Wow, still defending Kissinger I see, even after all the info we gave you on him.

What website am I on again?

[treestar]

44. Guilty until proven innocent?

That's "defending" anyone? People should not be called criminals unless convicted. That's our Constitution.

[beam me up scottie]

45. Yes you're defending a war criminal. Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld weren't convicted either.

People should not be called criminals unless convicted. That's our Constitution.

They're constantly called criminals here, how many times have you defended them?

Why the double standard?

[riversedge]

7. says he was only sentenced to probation and 2,000 fine. whow. he got off easy

[earthside]

28. Got off easy like this guy?

Clinton husband agrees to plea bargain.

Mr. Clinton's Last Deal
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/20/opinion/mr-clinton-s-last-deal.html

[riversedge]

35. Distraction from the OP is all you have. Sad. bye bye

[NurseJackie]

15. REALLY?! How interesting!!

Other than expressing my extreme interest in this, I'm afraid that I cannot comment further with my personal thoughts and analysis about what it means, or what other things I infer from it.

[BainsBane]

19. Just imagine the outrage

If this had been one of Clinton's staffers?

[Luminous Animal]

24. His company is listed on the DNC Supplier Diversity List. Maybe you should give them a heads up that

they are recommending embezzlers to the candidates

http://directory.democrats.org/solidarity-strategies/

[peace13]

34. See post 28

Oh the outrage!

[Luminous Animal]

22. His company is on the DNC supplier diversity list

http://directory.democrats.org/solidarity-strategies/

[PonyUp]

23. Hillary says former presidents won't have to reveal their criminal records. LOL!

Freudian slip?

[DesertRat]

25. k&r

[kath]

26. more RECYCLING, from 9 days ago.

Can't you guys come up with some new material?

[1StrongBlackMan]

27. I dislike these kinds of posts because they lead to ...

endless "But {insert name of candidate} has a supporter that ..." posts.

Not that anyone cares what I dislike.

[BainsBane]

36. We've had years of posts about how Clinton

And everyone surrounding her is corrupt, while her challenger is treated like a paragon of virtue. I think a slight attempt at balance is appropriate.

[Nanjeanne]

30. I must be losing my mind but didn't we see this last week?

[CC]

31. You should look up

Chelsea's in-laws if this is important to you. If for no other reason than to be fair if associations matter. BTW undecided former O'M supporter suggesting this.

[Hekate]

37. Very interesting. KnR

[Gothmog]

38. Interesting article

[cherokeeprogressive]

40. Wow that's some shit right there...

Below is an updated list of Clinton-related friends, colleagues, associates, and related business entities, who have been convicted of crimes, updated through April 14, 1998. Forty names, and counting. The format of the list is that the names are allocated to the various investigative categories, with each individual/entity named and accompanied by a brief description of the relevant crime(s) and a source of the information.

VARIOUS ARKANSAS:

1) Roger Clinton: Bill Clinton brother; drug trafficking conviction (Wall Street Journal "The Foster Test" January 14, 1994)

2) Dan Lasater: governor Bill Clinton contributor and state contractor: drug trafficking conviction (Wall Street Journal "The Foster Test" January 14, 1994)

3) Dan Harmon: Arkansas Seventh Judicial District prosecuting attorney and Bill Clinton friend and political ally: five federal racketeering, extortion, and drug distribution convictions (Wall Street Journal "Arkansas Justice" June 13, 1997)

4) Bill McCuen: Bill Clinton political ally: former Arkansas Secretary of State; bribery, tax evasion, kickbacks convictions (Wall Street Journal: Whitewater: "The Prosecution Rests" May 7, 1996)

WHITEWATER:

5) Webster Hubbell: Bill Clinton friend and political ally; Hillary Clinton Rose Law Firm partner: embezzlement; fraud; two felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Whither Whitewater?" October 18, 1995)

6) Jim Guy Tucker: fraud; three felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Second-Term Stall" February 11, 1997; Associated Press "Tucker Pleads Guilty to Cable Fraud" February 20, 1998)

7) William J. Marks Sr.: Jim Guy Tucker business partner; one conspiracy conviction (Associated Press "Whitewater Defendant Pleads Guilty" August 28, 1997)

8) Jim McDougal: Bill and Hillary Clinton friend, banker, and political ally: eighteen felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Immunize Hale" May 29, 1996)

9) Susan McDougal: Bill and Hillary Clinton friend; former wife of Jim McDougal: four felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Immunize Hale" May 29, 1996)

10) David Hale: Bill and Hillary Clinton friend, banker, and political ally: two felony convictions of conspiracy and mail fraud (Wall Street Journal "The Arkansas Machine Strikes Back" March 19, 1996)

11) Chris Wade: Whitewater real estate broker; two felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Hard Evidence From a Federal Investigator" August 10, 1995)

12) Stephen Smith: former Governor Clinton aide; one conviction (Wall Street Journal "Hard Evidence From a Federal Investigator" August 10, 1995)

13) Larry Kuca: Madison real estate agent; fraudulent loans (Wall Steet Journal "Hard Evidence From a Federal Investigator" August 10, 1995)

14) Robert Palmer: Madison appraiser; one conspiracy felony conviction (Wall Street Journal "Hale Predicts Hillary Conviction" October 21, 1996)

15) Neal Ainley: Perry County Bank president; embezzled bank funds for Clinton campaign; two misdemeanor convictions (Wall Street Journal "Arkansas Bank Shot" May 4, 1995)

16) John Latham: Madison Bank CEO; bank fraud conviction (Wall Street Journal "Smoke Without Fire" January 12, 1996)

17) John Haley: attorney for Jim Guy Tucker; misdemeanor guilty plea; tax fraud (Associated Press "Tucker Pleads Guilty to Cable Fraud" February 20, 1998)

18) Eugene Fitzhugh: Whitewater defendant, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of trying to bribe David Hale; is appealing a ten month prison sentence (The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "Whitewater Defendants" February 22, 1998)

19) Charles Matthews: Whitewater defendant, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of bribery, served fourteen months of a sixteen month prison sentence (The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "Whitewater Defendants" February 22, 1998)

ESPY:

20) Tyson Foods: guilty plea; $6 million federal court fines and investigative costs (Washington Post "Tyson Foods Admits Illegal Gifts to Espy" December 30, 1997)

21) Sun-Diamond Growers: $1.5 million fine for illegal campaign contributions to Espy's brother (Associated Press "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)

22) Richard Douglas: former Sun-Diamond Growers official; several bribery convictions and guilty pleas(Washington Post "Tyson Foods Admits Illegal Gifts to Espy" December 30, 1997; Associated Press: "Lobbyist Pleads guilty in Espy Case" March 17, 1998)

23) James H. Lake: Sun-Diamond Growers lobbyist; three convictions regarding illegal campaign contributions to Espy's brother (Associated Press "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)

24) Ron Blackley: Espy's chief of staff: financial fraud conviction; twenty-seven month prison sentence (Washington Post "Tyson Foods Admits Illegal Gifts to Espy" December 30, 1997; Associated Press: "Judge Sentences Espy Aide to Jail" March 18, 1998)

25) Smith Barney: improper payments to Espy; $1 million-plus fine (Associated Press: "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)

26) Crop Growers Corporation: $2 million fine for money laundering to Henry Espy's campaign (Associated Press: "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)

27) Brook Keith Mitchell Sr. (with his company Five M Farming Enterprises: four counts) for fraud (Associated Press: "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)

28) Five M Farming Enterprises (with owner Brook Keith Mitchell: four counts) for fraud (Associated Press: "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)

29) John J. Hemmingson, former head of Crop Growers Corporation: three counts relating to illegal campaign contributions to Henry Espy (Associated Press: "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)

30) Alvarez T. Ferrouillet, Jr., Louisiana lawyer and Henry Espy campaign finance head: ten count conviction (Associated Press: "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)

31) Municipal Healthcare Cooperative: Ferrouillet-related company; perjury, bank fraud, money laundering convictions (Washington Post: "Tyson Foods Admits Illegal Gifts to Espy" December 30, 1997)

32) Ferrouillet & Ferrouillet: Ferrouillet-related company; perjury, bank fraud, money laundering convictions (Washington Post: "Tyson Foods Admits Illegal Gifts to Espy" December 30, 1997)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE:

33) Michael Brown (Ron Brown's son): money laundering; misdemeanor conviction (Los Angeles Times, "Ron Brown's Son Pleads Guilty to Illegal Donation" August 29, 1997)

34) Eugene Lum: Clinton/Gore campaign contributor and colleague; felony conviction; money laundering (Los Angeles Times, "First Fund-Raising Sentences Meted Out" September 10, 1997)

35) Nora Lum: Clinton/Gore campaign contributor and colleague; felony conviction; money laundering (Los Angeles Times, "First Fund-Raising Sentences Meted Out" September 10, 1997)

36) Johnny Chung: Clinton/Gore campaign contributor and colleague; many visits to Clinton White House and Oval Office with mainland Chinese associates; several illegal campaign contributions, money laundering, tax fraud, and bank fraud guilty pleas (Associated Press: "Democrat Fund-Raiser Pleads Guilty" March 17, 1998)

37) Roger Tamraz: Clinton/Gore campaign contributor and colleague; many visits to Clinton White House and Oval Office; fugitive from Lebanon embezzlement convictions; target of French government financial investigation; BCCI connections (The Wall Street Journal: "Integrity of the Institutions" March 20, 1997, et. al.) CISNEROS:

38) Linda Jones: Henry Cisneros mistress; conspiracy, bank fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice federal felony guilty pleas; sentenced to three and one-half years in prison (Associated Press: "Cisneros Ex-Mistress Sentenced" March 25, 1998)

39) Patsy Jo Wooten: Linda Jones sister; one conspiracy guilty plea (Associated Press: "Cisneros Ex-Mistress Sentenced" March 25, 1998)

40) Allen Wooten: Linda Jones brother-in-law; one conspiracy guilty plea (Associated Press: "Cisneros Ex-Mistress Sentenced" March 25, 1998)