Sanders adviser was convicted of union embezzling

[Cali_Democrat]

By Brian Mahoney

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.


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

[hobbit709]

1. Dupe and double dupe posts.

But no one in Camp Weathervane can stop bringing up the same crap over and over hoping it will stick.

[John Poet]

19. Guess we better get a complete list of Clinton staffers

and DOXX them.

Who knows what one might find.

[hobbit709]

22. Probably all sorts of interesting things.

[beam me up scottie]

49. Well when you can't discuss issues you have to go with what you know.

Apparently Hillary supporters don't have anything positive to say about their candidate.

The guilt by association fallacy isn't the best choice though.

Kissinger and Brock are just two...

[Hoyt]

2. Yeah, but Clinton got paid for a speech to the American Camping Association and UCLA.

[merrily]

35. It's the millions from Wall Street that are the problem. But you knew that.

[Warren DeMontague]

3. Wow! Certainly a bombshell like this deserves a cluster of threads!

Wouldn't you agree?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1140849

[hobbit709]

4. and this one earlier today.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511193950

[Matt_in_STL]

5. Hey!

Searching is hard work and much too technical for the Hillary crowd. There's a special place in hell for those who search!

[bigtree]

48. Sanders supporters complaining about a glut of posts on the same subject?

[Warren DeMontague]

53. Go ahead, read the link.

Funny what generates all sorts of breathless, flappy-handed outrage, and what people choose to ignore.

[Bobbie Jo]

59. No kidding.

Let me join you here.

[Arazi]

6. Do you really want to play "who has the most unsavory associates"?

[Dawson Leery]

8. If he worked for Hillary, DU would be spammed with

thread after thread about this matter.

[Arazi]

10. Hillary loves Kissinger whose on her list of 'advisors"

The Clinton camp's list of bad guys associated with them is a mile long and very ugly

You do realize this guy is on the DNC's recommended list right? Maybe you can take it up with DWS about why she thinks this guy is okey dokey for Dems to put on their team

[stevenleser]

11. That makes it OK for Bernie to have a Union embezzler on the payroll? nt

[Arazi]

14. He's vetted and Recced by the Dem party

maybe take it up with them?

[stevenleser]

15. So the Sanders campaign isn't doing simple background checks to check for felons? The guys a felon.

A $30 background check would have caught this.

[bravenak]

33. He is perfect Steve just stop!!

You start loving bernie right now!!! Or else I'm coming back to your facebook and I WILL COMMENT ABOUT YOU!!

[stevenleser]

36. LOL, exactly. They love to attack and change the subject but are such delicate flowers. Check this

post I was just asked to serve as juror on: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1016144028

Of course it was hidden like most OPs that are critical of Sanders these days.

[bravenak]

41. Always

Thats why I just post the link and no text. Its the text that gives people something to hide.

[John Poet]

24. That makes it the DNC's fault and not his.

[stevenleser]

27. Nope. When you want to be President you have to be responsible for stuff like this.

You can't shift responsibility.

[Arazi]

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

Who leaked classified information are okay advising the President, then this is exactly what it is - a big nothing.

[Politicalboi]

56. And responsible for wars you vote for

I would rather have this mistake than deaths of innocent people. I've never seen such desperation.

[Perogie]

50. I believe he completed his sentencing.

Are you saying that someone that fulfills their obligation to the courts shouldn't be given a second chance?

[stevenleser]

9. Would that make it better for Bernie? nt

[Arazi]

12. Well certainly bad for Clinton-who-plays-kissy-face-with-Kissinger

as one of her "advisors" right off the top of my head

[stevenleser]

13. Any of that make it ok for Bernie to have a Union Embezzler on the payroll? nt

[Arazi]

17. Take it up with DWS, she's ok with it

or you can read the other three threads on this today alone.

Good luck!

[stevenleser]

20. Nope. Bernie wants to be POTUS. He needs to be responsible for stuff like this.

Welcome to the bigs.

[Arazi]

26. Hillary loves war criminals and has them as her advisors

DWS Recced the company and this guy. So good luck with that

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

[stevenleser]

28. The Berniebros response wont work. nt

[retrowire]

45. Your explanation of why you changed your tone on Hillary is still bunk.

How does one simply have a change of heart because Hillary conceded defeat to Obama?

It's a simple question. But since you're not above school yard tactics such as name calling, I'll await a legitimate answer or an inevitable "I'm proud to be a victim of the Bernie Bros" comment.

Basically, you still haven't cleared your credibility.

[stevenleser]

46. It doesnt matter what you think. Its my explanation of my feelings. nt

[retrowire]

51. It doesn't matter what I think?

You're right. If you hold yourself in high esteem then good for you. You can look in the mirror in the morning and be happy with yourself.

But regarding your credibility and trustworthiness to others? You can't really change that without an explanation to others.

You don't owe me anything. But without understanding truly why you had such a flop in preference, without understanding why the words you said then somehow don't apply to the Hillary of 2016, I just can't trust you.

And your further opinions are consistently vapid to me.

I think you are capable of honesty, and I believe you're capable of being a good person. But when I stack the stevenleser of today with the stevenleser of the past, I see someone who spoke valid truth then, and someone who writes scathing attacks and "bernie bro" insults today.

That kind of mix doesn't add up to someone that I can take seriously. I don't mean to offend. I just mean to say that I like having faith in people who have good minds. And I don't know what to think of you.

[Politicalboi]

57. HilLIARy loves war

[Dawson Leery]

18. So Bernie supporters have no problem with an embezzler on their side?

O.K then.............................

[stevenleser]

21. Yep. They think the Berniebro response of attacking the messenger or attacking Hillary will help.

It won't.

[Arazi]

23. You loving some Kissinger I see?

Here let me take it slowly...

He's recommended by the DNC

they are recommending embezzlers to the candidates

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

[stevenleser]

25. The Berniebros response wont work. nt

[Arazi]

29. Hillary and Kissinger

Yeah, that's good

[Arazi]

31. LOL, you wish! War criminals my friend...

[stevenleser]

32. Which would be relevant in an OP about them. Otherwise its a Berniebros response. nt

[Arazi]

38. My comment was that getting into whose got the worst advisors contest

would be bad for HRC.

That's what this subthread is about. It's called a discussion and sometimes that doesn't go the way the OP or you wants.

Sucks sometimes

[stevenleser]

39. ...doesnt help make it better for Bernie. There, finished your subject for you. nt

[Arazi]

42. Shrug, take it up with DWS.

Faux, manufactured outrage.

Since you're ok with war criminals, it makes perfect sense why you'd think an embezzler approved by the DNC would be the greater travesty.

[stevenleser]

43. Nope, a President or someone who aspires to be can't hide behind other people's decisions.

The buck stops here.

[Arazi]

47. I'll make it simple - it doesn't matter

If having a war criminal as one of your advisors isn't a problem, then this isn't a problem.

But you knew that.

Your days at Faux are not doing good things for you Steve. I'm worried about you. You're picking up some bad habits like manufacturing outrage.

[Perogie]

55. Do you know how Truman got his start in politics?

Pedergast was pretty corupt. Without his help getting Truman started in politics we may not have had one of the best Presidents this country has seen.

Hiring a company that hired an ex-felon isn't that bad.


Best wishes

[beam me up scottie]

7. Is it recycling day already? Good for you!

[Motown_Johnny]

16. Clinton's husband lied under oath. Your point? n/t

[bravenak]

30. This is disturbing

[Arazi]

34. You're disturbed by this and not Kissinger advising HRC?

Oh that's right, you don't care either that Hillary's also drenched in blood

Carry on

[bravenak]

37. Kissinger?

Why would a 30 something woman be in agony about Kissinger?

[Arazi]

40. I think I'm just going to let you have the last word here

talk about disturbing...

[Perogie]

44. Sounds like he paid his dues for his crime

Great that he has the ability to rehabilitate himself and not be a burden on society.

Good job Bernie for giving people that pay for their crimes a second chance.

[bowens43]

52. Clinton was complicate in the murder of 1/2 million Iraqis

[NurseJackie]

58. Things keep being discovered and revealed.

[Half-Century Man]

60. Yeah....felons should be never be forgiven no matter what they do or how long they are punished.

Those evil people should have no rights, money, voting privileges, standing in society (other than forced laborer), forever and ever amen.


How many here have...colorful pasts? How many here have family members with colorful pasts?
Do you support the disenfranchisement of 1/6th of the male African American population due to felony records? Records caused by an inherently racist criminal justice system.

[Gothmog]

61. Interesting article