DEVELOPER GUILTY OF ILLEGAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO REID

[WestVirginiaRebel]

AP:

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- A Nevada powerbroker who headed a billion-dollar real estate company and pulled the strings of state politics as a prominent lobbyist for more than a decade was convicted Wednesday of making illegal campaign contributions to U.S. Sen. Harry Reid.

Harvey Whittemore, 59, could face up to 15 years in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines after a federal jury returned guilty verdicts on three counts tied to nearly $150,000 illegally funneled to Reid's re-election campaign in 2007.

U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks instructed the jury to continue deliberating on another count of lying to the FBI. Jurors said they were deadlocked on that count.

Whittemore stood with his arms behind his back and shook his head slightly after the verdicts were read. He and lawyers for both sides declined comment on the verdicts pending a decision on the final count.

Whittemore was convicted of making excessive campaign contributions, making contributions in the name of another and causing a false statement to be made to the Federal Election Commission. Each count carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Reid had no comment on the verdicts, said Kristen Orthman, a spokeswoman for the senator.

________

 

Dirty Harry and friends...

[Casino67]

The AP must have left out the part saying he gave the money back. He DID give it back didn't he?