Fugitive Political Donor Misses Court Date

Headline News

[##_1L|1206172925.jpg|width="130" height="90" alt=""|_##]Norman Hsu, the fugitive fund-raiser for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and other Democrats who turned himself in to California authorities last week, failed to show up for a court appearance today, and his lawyer said Mr. Hsu’s whereabouts were unknown. Mr. Hsu, who had been free on $2 million bond, was scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Redwood City at 9 a.m. Pacific time to surrender his passport. But when the appointed time came and went with no sign of Mr. Hsu, his lawyer and prosecutors met in chambers with the judge, who then announced he was revoking Mr. Hsu’s bail and issuing a new warrant for his arrest.

"We do not know where he is at this moment," said James Brosnahan, Mr. Hsu’s lawyer. "We hope he will be court today."

Mr. Hsu’s absence seemed to be a repeat of his disappearing act in 1992, when he skipped out on a sentencing hearing related to his conviction in a fraud case, only to re-emerge years later as a major Democratic fund-raiser in New York. Since 2003, he personally contributed $600,000 to Democrats around the country and raised hundreds of thousands more, frequently hosting fund-raising parties and getting his picture taken with prominent politicians.

He was a designated "Hillraiser" for Mrs. Clinton’s presidential campaign, meaning he had bundled over $100,000 in contributions from others. Last week, the Clinton campaign said it was given to charity $23,000 Mr. Hsu had donated, and was reviewing other contributions he helped raised for any evidence of illegality.

Also last week, Mr. Hsu resigned from the board of the New School in New York, where he had served as a trustee and a member of the board of governors of the Eugene Lang College there.

Mr. Brosnahan told reporters outside the courthouse in Redwood City that he had sent an assistant to Mr. Hsu’s apartment in New York on Tuesday to retrieve Mr. Hsu’s passport, but it could not be found.

Ralph Sivilla, an assistant California attorney general, said the government had believed that the $2 million bail and Mr. Hsu’s agreement to remain in the country were sufficient to ensure that he would not flee.

"Those circumstances seemed to suggest he was not a flight risk," Mr. Sivilla said. "I don’t know at this point what our next step will be."

Asked whether Mr. Hsu could have left the country, Mr. Sivilla said "I would imagine he has the capability," although he added that he had no reason to believe that Mr. Hsu had done so.

Mr. Hsu’s latest disappearance deepens the mystery surrounding much of his life since he vanished 15 years ago. He apparently spent part of the 1990s in his native Hong Kong, where he managed a garment company, before returning to the United States and taking up residences in California and New York.

On campaign finance reports, he has listed his occupation as an executive at an assortment of companies that appear to be connected to the apparel trade, although efforts to verify his involvement with them have proven fruitless. An address he has given as his office in New York’s garment district seems to be little more than a mail drop, and people who work nearby have said they rarely see him.

Related listings

  • McGraw Hill's Bahash Faces Purported Suit

    McGraw Hill's Bahash Faces Purported Suit

    Headline News 08/29/2007

    [##_1L|1345126465.jpg|width="101" height="102" alt=""|_##]O'Rourke Katten & Moody said it filed a lawsuit against McGraw-Hill Cos.'s chief financial officer Robert J. Bahash on behalf of shareholders who bought the company's common stock between ...

  • Vick may face long road back to the gridiron

    Vick may face long road back to the gridiron

    Headline News 08/27/2007

    By agreeing to plead guilty for his role in an illegal dogfighting outfit, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick took the first step toward putting 1915 Moonlight Road - the home of Bad Newz Kennels - behind him. But getting back to the gridiron w...

  • Ryan hopes to pick his prison

    Ryan hopes to pick his prison

    Headline News 08/23/2007

    [##_1L|1235479427.jpg|width="130" height="130" alt=""|_##]At the same time that former Gov. George Ryan wages a last-ditch battle to overturn his federal fraud conviction, he is wrangling for his choice of federal prisons should the appeal fail. Pris...

Illinois Work Injury Lawyers – Krol, Bongiorno & Given, LTD.

Accidents in the workplace are often caused by unsafe work conditions arising from ignoring safety rules, overlooking maintenance or other negligence of those in management. While we are one of the largest firms in Illinois dedicated solely to the representation of injured workers, we pride ourselves on the personal, one-on-one approach we deliver to each client.

Work accidents can cause serious injuries and sometimes permanent damage. Some extremely serious work injuries can permanently hinder a person’s ability to get around and continue their daily duties. Factors that affect one’s quality of life such as place of work, relationships with friends and family, and social standing can all be taken away quickly by a work injury. Although, you may not be able to recover all of your losses, you may be entitled to compensation as a result of your work injury. Krol, Bongiorno & Given, LTD. provides informed advocacy in all kinds of workers’ compensation claims, including:

• Injuries to the back and neck, including severe spinal cord injuries
• Serious head injuries
• Heart problems resulting from workplace activities
• Injuries to the knees, elbows, shoulders and other joints
• Injuries caused by repetitive movements

For Illinois Workers’ Compensation claims, you will ALWAYS cheat yourself if you do not hire an experienced attorney. When you hire Krol, Bongiorno & Given, Ltd, you will have someone to guide you through the process, and when it is time to settle, we will add value to your case IN EXCESS of our fee. In the last few years, employers and insurance carriers have sought to advance the argument that when you settle a case without an attorney, your already low settlement should be further reduced by 20% so that you do not get a “windfall.” Representing yourself in Illinois is a lose-lose proposition.

Business News

St Peters, MO Professional License Attorney Attorney John Lynch has been the go-to choice for many professionals facing administrative sanction. >> read