Nbadan
09-27-2004, 06:44 PM
Since we don't have anything to investigate here in the States because, well, the Repugs control everything. Republican representatives have launched a congressional investigation into getting back at those evil French for not supporting us in Iraq.
12:02 pm: AP ENTERPRISE: Congressional investigators are trying to determine whether French bank was lax in monitoring $60 billion in U.N. oil-for-food program
By DESMOND BUTLER | Associated Press
September 27, 2004
NEW YORK - U.S. Congressional investigators examining "a semitrailer truck load" of subpoenaed documents are trying to determine whether lax monitoring at a French bank that held more than $60 billion (?49 billion) for the U.N. oil-for-food program facilitated illicit business deals by the former Iraqi government, officials told The Associated Press.
Although BNP Paribas isn't the target of the probe involving companies and individuals in 50 countries, the documents could provide a road map to alleged corruption at the United Nations and by politicians from France, Russia, Britain, Indonesia and Gulf states who have been implicated.
The three congressional panels that subpoenaed BNP Paribas documents are looking into whether the bank met minimum standards that require financial institutions to identify customers, partly to prevent money laundering. The committees are among at least five in Congress investigating allegations of U.N. corruption and reports that Iraqis skimmed billions of dollars in kickbacks through deals administered by the United Nations.
Investigators also are pressing for information from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which is responsible for regulating foreign banks operating in the United States.
"From our perspective this is a scandal of overwhelming proportions. There are so many pieces. We want to follow the money wherever it leads," said Sen. Norm Coleman, a Minnesota Republican and chairman of the Senate Government Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
(snip/...)
http://hosted.ap.org/photos/N/NY11809271820-big.jpg
12:02 pm: AP ENTERPRISE: Congressional investigators are trying to determine whether French bank was lax in monitoring $60 billion in U.N. oil-for-food program
By DESMOND BUTLER | Associated Press
September 27, 2004
NEW YORK - U.S. Congressional investigators examining "a semitrailer truck load" of subpoenaed documents are trying to determine whether lax monitoring at a French bank that held more than $60 billion (?49 billion) for the U.N. oil-for-food program facilitated illicit business deals by the former Iraqi government, officials told The Associated Press.
Although BNP Paribas isn't the target of the probe involving companies and individuals in 50 countries, the documents could provide a road map to alleged corruption at the United Nations and by politicians from France, Russia, Britain, Indonesia and Gulf states who have been implicated.
The three congressional panels that subpoenaed BNP Paribas documents are looking into whether the bank met minimum standards that require financial institutions to identify customers, partly to prevent money laundering. The committees are among at least five in Congress investigating allegations of U.N. corruption and reports that Iraqis skimmed billions of dollars in kickbacks through deals administered by the United Nations.
Investigators also are pressing for information from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which is responsible for regulating foreign banks operating in the United States.
"From our perspective this is a scandal of overwhelming proportions. There are so many pieces. We want to follow the money wherever it leads," said Sen. Norm Coleman, a Minnesota Republican and chairman of the Senate Government Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
(snip/...)
http://hosted.ap.org/photos/N/NY11809271820-big.jpg