Sessions' role in divorce case criticized

[tanyev]

Concerns are being raised both locally and nationally about Congressman Pete Sessions' involvement in a Collin County divorce case.

Sessions is being questioned about a sworn affidavit he provided to help a friend and large campaign contributor.

A watchdog group in Washington calls Sessions' involvement in the case "shady and unethical", while a local woman and her attorney say they are "dumbfounded by his actions."

Sessions, meanwhile, said he was only trying to help a good friend.

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa050309_am_sessions.121035625.html

Did anybody else see this on the news last night? Verrry interesting. IOKIYAR.

[Wickerman]

1. requires registration

can you give a little more info on how he "helped"?

[tanyev]

2. Oh, sorry.

There's a wealthy couple who have been big campaign donors, Lucia and Ahron Katz. The news showed photos of them w/Bush, Sessions, senators, etc. Now they are divorcing.

One year before the divorce, Mr. Katz was hit w/ a 1.4 mil judgment in a failed business venture. He began transferring 1.7 mil of assets to his wife's name. Pete Sessions has signed an affadavit in the divorce case. On February 11, 2005 - the day of a critical divorce court hearing - a surprise document was introduced by Ahron Katz's attorney. The sworn affidavit from Pete Sessions recalled a "summer 2003 discussion with them both ... via telephone, wherein they discussed their plan to have Lucia hold Ahron's lifetime savings and assets while attempting to resolve Ahron's ongoing legal dispute."

Lucia says she has never in her life participated in a phone call w/ Pete Sessions. The attorney for the business judgement is wondering why Sessions has apparently participated in a plan to hide assets. Mr. Katz and Sessions declined to comment on the story.

[rkc3]

3. Are you insinuating that a wealthy republican associated with the BFEE

would deliberately break the law to hide money?

Shame on you!

<end sarcasm>

[tanyev]

4. I am NOT insinuating.

I'm saying it plain as day. ;) And he got a Congressman to help him.

[rkc3]

5. As long as you've made your self clear - then you're OK.

[rainbow4321]

9. Collin County court page

http://tinyurl.com/6v5an

Collin County courts have a webpage that allows you to look up civil cases/divorces..here is the link to the Katz divorce case. At the bottom of the page is: AFFI - PETE SESSIONS 2/11/05 and
MOT TO STRKE AFDVT OF PETE SESSIONS 2/17/05

IF the above link doesn't work, below is the case lookup page..just punch in their last name. It is listed under Irwin Katz. Change the search option to "search by name" first.


http://www.co.collin.tx.us/ShowCaseLookupServlet

[Wickerman]

6. Thanks!

and geez, what a bucket of scum, even for a GOPer. Any chance his daddy is Bill?

[tanyev]

8. Shite!

He is indeed. I did not know that. Wonder why that little tidbit doesn't get mentioned more often?

As I reported Monday, I'll be at a fundraiser for Ramsey Farley -- Rep. Chet Edwards' opponent -- in Temple, Texas Friday evening. But the Congressman who is the star attraction is Rep. PETE Sessions (R-Texas ) not "Congressman" (actually Senator) JEFF Sessions (R-Ala.).

My keyboard was in motion without brain being in gear.

I first met Pete, and his father, former FBI Director Bill Sessions, at a Capitol Hill Club fundraiser when he, too, was a Congressional hopeful.
http://www.wmsa.net/People/neal_knox/020620_alert.htm

[CoolOnion]

10. Here's an excerpt:

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa050309_am_sessions.121035625.html

But perhaps the bigger question is being posed by Matthew Andersen, the attorney representing the plaintiffs who won that December 2002 judgment against Katz. He said Sessions' affidavit outlines what appears to be an attempt by Katz to hide assets from the plaintiffs.

Lucia Katz "My clients had obtained a judgment against Mr. Katz in excess of $1.4 million," Andersen said. "We were trying to collect it and they were out apparently hiding assets, and this was known to the congressman."

Congressional watchdog Melanie Sloan is responsible for helping to bring successful ethics charges against Congressman Tom Delay. She has also read the affidavit, and believes Sessions may have violated House rules requiring members to conduct themselves in a fashion that reflects positively on Congress.

"I'm just stunned a congressman would sign something like this," Sloan said. "And when a member of Congress is involved in this kind of shady dealing, that does not reflect well on the Congress."


Yeah, well, that's our Pete. He has a record of doing stuff that doesn't "reflect well on the Congress"--a police record, that is, for stealing political signs. Read all about it, and get your very own PDF of Sessions' police record at this link:

The Stakeholder
http://blog.dccc.org/mt/archives/000864.html

[crispini]

7. And it's by Brett Shipp!

I may have to start watching Channel 8 more because of him.