« previous | MUCK HOME | next »
Today's Must Read
They're hard to keep straight, the various and sundry friends and business associates of Rudy Giuliani with legal problems. But here's one worth keeping an eye on: Hank Asher. ABC reports that Asher, a former drug-runner, as well as a business partner and "close friend" of Giuliani's, makes an appearance in the recent indictment of Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona on bribery charges.
Carona himself was once a rising star in the GOP, often mentioned as a potential candidate for lieutenant governor of California. Dubbed "America's Sheriff" by Larry King for how he handled the 2002 hunt for 5-year-old Samantha Runnion's kidnapper, he naturally endorsed America's Mayor Rudy Giuliani for president. According to news accounts, he's met Giuliani at least twice. He's also chums with Bernie Kerik.
The indictment alleges that Carona and five associates, including his wife (Deborah) and mistress (named Debra), accepted bribes and generally did what they could to get rich off Carona's position ($700,000 in bribes and kickbacks). Among the dozens of illicit gifts enumerated in the indictment is this one:
On or about December 19, 2002, defendant Deborah Carona and co-conspirator Jaramillo's wife [that's Carona's assistant Sheriff George Jaramillo] accepted as gifts from H.A., a businessman who owned a data mining software company, yellow gold and diamond Ladies Cartier Watches worth approximately $15,000 each.
"H.A.", according to ABC, is Hank Asher, who did indeed own a data mining software company called Seisint at the time (more about that later). Asher himself is worth "north of $700 million," based mostly on his success selling his data mining product, which is called Matrix (he's since sold it to LexisNexis). And yes, he did smuggle cocaine from Colombia to Florida aboard his private jet for eight months in 1980 and 1981. But he says he paid his dues by cooperating with federal agents to stop other runners.
But it sounds like Asher still likes to live large. During that same dinner meeting with the two wives at Carmine's here in New York, he apparently got a bit rambunctious:
When Hank Asher reached into the bag and pulled out the two $15,000 gold Cartier watches, the holiday crowd at Carmine's restaurant on 44th Street in Manhattan noticed, patrons recalled....During the Carmine's dinner, when Asher's voice began to boom across the room, patrons recall him handing his black American Express card to the restaurant to pay for any inconvenience his boisterous party caused the other guests. He told the staff to buy everyone's dinners and drinks and then peeled off a few $100 bills to tip strolling carolers in the restaurant.
As ABC notes, Asher isn't named as a co-conspirator in the case, and "there is no allegation in the document that he attempted to influence any purchases or other decisions by the county." Maybe it was just a nice Christmas gift. But the timing is enough to raise eyebrows. Because that's when Asher was making a big push for law enforcement agencies to buy his product. Carona, famous as he was for tracking down child predators, would have been an asset to Asher, who was hawking a product designed to help authorities identify suspects by searching billions of public records. Carona and Asher would later serve together on the Board of Directors for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Certainly Asher had a broad strategy for selling his system. To help him sell to the federal government, his secret weapon was Rudy Giuliani, whom he'd hired for a staggering sum of money -- under a contract that the two of them kept secret for years. More about that in a bit.
Comments (45)
Michael A wrote on December 5, 2007 9:49 AM:I have a question. Why aren't dems saving this stuff until the general? Mr. 9/11 would go down in flames, like he is now. Dems are doing republicans a favor by bringing this stuff out now so he doesn't get the nomination.
Republicans aren't doing dems any favors and are keeping their powder dry concerning clinton II. Why can't dems play this game, like republicans can? It boggles the mind.
TheraP wrote on December 5, 2007 9:56 AM:bushco = crime family
giullico = even more!
danger wrote on December 5, 2007 10:19 AM:I don't think this is so much a GOP conspiracy to down Rudy any more than it is a Democratic one; it's more of just the way events have played out over the past few years that this is getting dredged to the surface at this time.
In Asher, we have a felonious character who is involved in all sorts of shady business dealings with Rudy, that sheriff, and more importantly, that whole data mining business. I gotta wonder if this data mining operation was one and the same or related to the surveillance program that Alberto Gonzales was having hid; all of these less than savory characters keep bringing up more and more questions with each passing scandal unearthed.
adrianne wrote on December 5, 2007 10:20 AM:@ Michael A: What do you mean, Dems? The media break these stories. How are the Dems supposed to suppress a corruption story that's in the public record until the general?
bubba wrote on December 5, 2007 10:20 AM:Well, the vestigial media and the 'majority' of the public and Supreme Court ignored all of Geo. W. Bush's involvement with and ties to failed and bankrupted businesses, required bailouts, and fixed financial deals. In 'retrospect' it seems like that sort of information was a pretty good indicator of what was in store with a Bush presidency. I think it is safe to say that all of these stories about Rudy--the many and multi-faceted ties to very corrupt individuals, as well as his adultery (and other relevant moral and judgmental failings) all on and pushed through to the public dole--also are pretty good indicators of what would be in store with a Giuliani presidency. I sure hope the vestigial media and the public take notice this time.
Pete wrote on December 5, 2007 10:21 AM:Michael A, why do you assume that this information is coming out of Democratic oppo research? It is more likely coming from one of Rudy's Republican rivals. Further, why do you assume that the Democrats aren't holding back the "good stuff" until the general? The sleeze on Rudy runs so deep and thick it could keep oppo researchers busy for seven election cycles.
Michael A wrote on December 5, 2007 10:27 AM:Ok, I give. I am wrong as always.
Crust wrote on December 5, 2007 10:43 AM:'"close friend" of Giuliani's'
vs.
'he's met Giuliani at least twice'
America's Cop and America's Sheriff must be pretty gregarious guys if they can form a close friendship on the basis of as few as two meetings.
Kefa wrote on December 5, 2007 11:00 AM:There is so much more on Rudy......you just know it's got to be so much more if this is coming out now.
jeffs wrote on December 5, 2007 11:01 AM:As a former New Yorker who agrees with Jimmy Breslin that Rudy is "a small man looking for a balcony", I get profound joy at watching Rudy get his ass kicked. I don't care who does it.
But I do wonder about the effect on some of the more tribal denizens of Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, if Rudy got his ass kicked by either Obama or Clinton during the general.
Steve5117 wrote on December 5, 2007 11:02 AM:Crust: These are the type of fellows who can form loving relationships on a first meeting.
spencer wrote on December 5, 2007 11:03 AM:Nitpick: the South American country is Colombia, not Columbia.
rspnc wrote on December 5, 2007 11:04 AM:Both Giuliani and Thompson are in a nose dive, and depending on how Romney handles his Faith in America speech on Mormonism, we could be facing only Huckabee and McCain as serious contenders for the Republican Nomination.
I think Giuliani will be viewed as seriously 'wounded' if he were the Republican Nominee, which likely accounts for him having lost 25% of his support in the last 10 days.
I think the Giuliani implosion was expected by Republican insiders who were aware of his past. It was always just a question of when.
Lono wrote on December 5, 2007 11:06 AM:Wife: Deborah
Mistress: Debra
Never getting their names confused: Priceless
Just a humorous distraction...if I don't find humor in it somehow, it'll make me cry.
Matt wrote on December 5, 2007 11:09 AM:I realize Orange County is a large and populous place with a lot of important assets to protect (on paper, anyway), but what's with the ultra-military uniform on that guy? "County Sheriff" does not equal "four-star general" no matter how awesome your county is, and that hat is pure tinpot generalissimo stuff.
Eh, don't mind me. I'm just cranky because I'm starting to realize that we won't have Rudy to kick around anymore.
jeffs wrote on December 5, 2007 11:10 AM:I wonder how Pat Robertson is handling all this?
The Old Grouch wrote on December 5, 2007 11:11 AM:Crust wrote on December 5, 2007 10:43 AM:
'"close friend" of Giuliani's'
It might be a good idea to look into the meaning of "close friend" in Giuliani's other milieu. It's a form of introduction there. ("He's a close friend of ours!")
The guy has been around that world far too much for me to think he was either only visiting or only prosecuting. Roll around with pigs, get up muddy...
Virginia wrote on December 5, 2007 11:16 AM:I disagree with the general idea behind Michael A's comment. Although it's tempting to think we Dems should engineer things so that the weakest potential Repub candidate gets the nomination, this strategy can backfire in the worst way. There are so many unknowns in an election season that we can never predict where things will be next November. Someone as dangerous as Giuliani should never be allowed to get within striking distance of the Presidency.
JEP wrote on December 5, 2007 11:18 AM:"Why aren't dems saving this stuff until the general?"
Don't worry about running out of Republican corruption before the general election,tThis is the tip of the biggest corruption scandal in history, there's more than enough below the surface that will come floating to the top, for many years to come, let alone before November 2008.
The billion-dollar no-bid culture that was spawned by 9-11 and the consequential attack in Iraq, with some help from Cheney's CEObots, created more corruption than Henry can shake a gavel at, and since the public has obviously had enough (2006 was just a prelude) you can expect "the rest of the story" to start unfolding one scandal at a time.
Don't worry about running out of corruption before the general election, there is more than enough to go around, for many years to come.
Andy wrote on December 5, 2007 11:24 AM:Crust: Asher is the "close friend." It's Carona who has met Giuliani "at least twice."
mkolb wrote on December 5, 2007 11:29 AM:Sometime in '06 or '05, Vanity Fair did a full length profile on Asher. It was fascinating (the way a cobra is fascinating or a train wreck). I cannot find it online (I no longer have Lexis/Nexis), but it's worth finding and reading.
It seems to me he was somehow involved in some of the things that DOD was planning although I do not remember how that panned out.
I'd really rather have Rudy as the republican nominee than Huckabee or McCain. Giuliani will be easy for the Democrats to beat while Huckabee will be the hardest as he is just so charming - even with the anti-evolution stance. I'm pretty sure he doesn't have much of a chance, but I think the race will be harder.
MichiganMarkW wrote on December 5, 2007 11:37 AM:America's Sheriff TM has endorsed America's Mayor (gag) so even if they hate each other, the links are relevant.
Corona is yet another dirty contributor/supporter.
judyinnm wrote on December 5, 2007 11:44 AM:In the Republican party, corruption (esepecially if the corrupt official made money at it) is considered a virtue. What is the point of being in public office and having power if you're NOT going to make money from it? And if in your private business dealings your actions harm the interests of this country - well, that's not their concern, they're in business to make money. So, whether it's Cheney, Bush or Giuliani (or senators or congresspeople or department officials, etc.), you're not representing your constituency unless you act in your own best interest. Concern for the best interests of this country and its citizens is antithetical to the principles of a capitalist society, and Un-American.
So the more scandals that are exposed concerning any Republican candidate only work in their favor.
ky beaver wrote on December 5, 2007 11:59 AM:simple question:
did Hank Asher have a security clearance with the government as a contractor working on a datamining program?
If so, how did he get clearance if he was a known cocaine smuggler?
ok, that's two simple questions.
Imelda Blahnik wrote on December 5, 2007 12:00 PM:jeffs re: Breslin's "a small man looking for a balcony." *snort*
I had not heard that one before - thank you.
ScrewBush wrote on December 5, 2007 12:03 PM:Am I correct in assuming that you just can't be a Republican in good standing unless you have a mistress?
Sorry, but GOPers you can keep your family values far, far, away from my family. I enjoy my marriage of 20 years just the way it is.
OxyCon wrote on December 5, 2007 12:18 PM:Giuliani is tough on crime, except when it comes to choosing his friends.
SeeDee wrote on December 5, 2007 12:25 PM:The list of Giuliani friends who are hard core criminals is growing larger by the day and there's plenty of variety: child rapists, cocaine dealers, mobsters, drug runners.
What's that old saying?
Oh yeah, "you are known by the company you keep".
ScrewBush: Of course, you can be a Republican only if you are maintaining a mistress (preferably at tax-payer expense); or, you can also be a Republican if you oppose gay marriage while consorting with male hookers to fulfill your sexual urges.
Blue Sun wrote on December 5, 2007 12:38 PM:Crust, I think you are a bit confused.
In the article, Asher is described as a business partner and "close friend" of Rudy's. Indeed, he and Giuliani had a close and extremely profitable (for Giuliani) business association for years.
Sheriff Corona, on the other hand, is the person described as having met Giuliani "at least twice" and of being a pal of Bernard Kerik's.
The Confidence Man wrote on December 5, 2007 12:39 PM:"Carona, famous as he was for tracking down child predators, would have been an asset to Asher, who was hawking a product designed to help authorities identify suspects by searching billions of public records. Carona and Asher would later serve together on the Board of Directors for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children."
Maybe that's why they became pals with Giuliani -- they were hot on the trail of Alan Placa.
b23 wrote on December 5, 2007 1:15 PM:If Rudy was found to have murdered someone Timmy & Tweety would still lead with the time Hillary kicked a dog (to my knowledge she never has but it might make a good narrative)
DickTater wrote on December 5, 2007 1:19 PM:Yes, those worried about Data Mining are seeing the bigger picture here, the scarier element.
These people are all getting into security businesses. The very definition of Fascism is a collusion of Corporate and Governmental power.
These people are getting voted onto National Advisory Board stuff about Internet Porn or Missing Children or Sexual Predators. Oh, by the way, they happen to be hawking a "system" which promises to hunt down and capture these "others" and everyone gets to make money on Police State Enterprises.
Oh, by the way, many of them are guilty of this stuff themselves....sexual predators or child exploiters, etc. What savory characters indeed, what an august body of folks to be sitting on all these councils and Judgement bodies.
Really, if you want to get rich....Get yourself a camera mounting and wiring business and a bucket-truck and some illegal mexicans and go into business Wiring Up Towns for Surveillance. They're shoveling out grants left and right. And these kind of scumsuckers have the whole system rigged. They snort up all the grants and public money so to better enslave us....using our own funds.
And nobody even really notices...we are all running so hard just to stay a step ahead of the grinder.
Karl Rove used datamining to shed a large percentage of voters in Florida and PA and Ohio. They've used it to trace peaceniks and hound ANYONE on certain mailinglists or people who have a D next to their name. We know they have sucked up ALL the phone and internet data from most of the largest carriers. Raw mining material.
How many of the scandals and armtwisting that this admin has been involved in - had something to do with snooped info?
Steven wrote on December 5, 2007 1:41 PM:As a lifelong republican I have to say the liberal media and these blogs and the Democrats are all amped up over these small things when the big thing is that we repulicans and conservatives beleive in GOD and that alone will carry the day.
danger wrote on December 5, 2007 1:44 PM:In 2000 and 2004 Dems thought they had the presidential elections in the bag.
But the Democrats just talk -
They do not organize - and they do not fight. Now I don't mean physically, I mean in emotion. Conservatives just plain ol fight harder for thier beliefs
in God. That is why we have been and always will be more patiotic then liberals.
Ha Ha ha, Steven, blame the libruls and question their patriotism, cause that's the real issue here!
Idiot.
Also, take the my God is better than your god crap off of here. It proves nothing other than you're a mindless imbecile.
danger wrote on December 5, 2007 2:08 PM:Dicktater - back to more relevant topics, the data mining issue and Giuliani's connections to them seem to be painting a nasty picture here.
On one hand, we have a man who is doing business with people who harbor terrorists, and not just any ol' terrorists but the 9/11 mastermind himself, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. His other business contacts involve these data-mining operations - done under the guise of public safety by combating pedophiles, Bernard Kerik's mob ties and a whole slew of other clients that Rudy refuses to public - which begs the question: what is the purpose of Rudy's business anyhow? I know it's 'security consulting' but what the hell does that even mean at this point?
Rudy's refusal to make public his business during a presidential campaign of all times says volumes about the savory nature of what he's covering up, and how he knows whatever is released will damn him.
robert green wrote on December 5, 2007 2:30 PM:i wonder if this has its naissance in ed meese's thievery. IIRC that story is the INSLAW case, and it was the first real attempt at using data-mining (starting with the chilean govt i think) to torture/kill/steal. you know, the usual republican stuff. why do i think that if you looked at the core of the MATRIX software you would find the INSLAW signature?
and are there any, i mean any, republicans who aren't thieving cheating scum?
robert green wrote on December 5, 2007 2:33 PM:hmmph.
that didn't work. let's try again: so does this story, if you dig far back enough, somehow relate to the INSLAW case and ed meese?
more general data-mining and republican criminality. what a shocker.
and of course poindexter was involved in both INSLAW and in TIA. what a world we live in.
Mooser wrote on December 5, 2007 3:28 PM:Republicans aren't doing dems any favors and are keeping their powder dry concerning clinton II.
Cause if there's anything we know about the Clintons, it's their ability to stay completely out of the public eye. What might they have been doing in secret right out there in plain sight?
The Clintons are a pretty well-known commodity. I doubt any new dirt is on the way. Did you know Bill had an affair, once?
danger wrote on December 5, 2007 3:52 PM:Mooser - I'm sure there's plenty of dirt out there, though something tells me the idiotcore neocons will start talking about Whitewater again as if it were today's news, even if there's nothing new to report on the matter. Even the loose laws in the insurance field that are notorious in Arkansas that are, according to one industry person who told me this, gives the politicians a source of political capital are likely to be as much of a non-issue.
Speaking of non-issues that should be issues, why isn't the Norman Hsu scandal be made more of a deal? Do the neocons have enough sway in the news industry to bury a story and then resurrect it for election cycles?
SeeDee wrote on December 5, 2007 4:54 PM:Yeah, DickTater, I think you presented some thought-provoking points in your commentary (above).
Can't we just envision a Dicta..., er, President Erik Prince?
cassie wrote on December 5, 2007 5:17 PM:As an alternative, try googling "Hank Asher Dick Cheney" and of course Tom Ridge. Amazingly he made his money by writing the algorithms that are the foundation of a commercial datamining business used by federal law enforcement and big city police as well as creditors and law firms and eroded privacy while he did so.
It is just unfortunate that the media didn't do all this work before and is just now getting around to all the garbage that was so carefully hidden to protect Bush/Cheney and probably will remain hidden. It's gotta be an inside hit job - somebody he really p***ed off. Couldn't happen to a nicer person!
Anonymous wrote on December 5, 2007 5:38 PM:"And yes, he did smuggle cocaine from Colombia to Florida aboard his private jet for eight months in 1980 and 1981."
Was he doing test runs for Iran Contra?
danger wrote on December 5, 2007 7:13 PM:cassie - so what you are saying is that he's responsible for all of the targeted ad spam I get? ROFL...
...jokes aside, this data mining business has had a subtle but very profound effect on all of our realities, and I think we've only just seen actual existence of the iceberg that is this scandal. If they were indeed hoovering up all digital information through the NSA setup at AT&T, just what was this data being used for, other than the publicly given reasons of pedophilia and terrorism prevention?
Somebody needs to bring this matter to Henry Waxman's attention.
Allison wrote on December 5, 2007 8:07 PM:And to think I interviewed for a CFO slot at his company back in mid-late 1990s. At that time, I thought he was just crazy and a bit creepy because of his demeanor (very over-the-top boisterous) - I guess it was a close call.
(I did not get offered the job because I hinted to the HR person that Hank was a bit crazy and that I thought employees probably laughed at him - not with him.)
Not so funny now. Just the usual pay-to-play republican...
Prego wrote on December 14, 2007 4:51 PM:Asher owned DBT data mining company
DBT engaged by FL\Jeb to screen voters.
DBT mis-identified citizens in FL as felons in haevy Dem regions. Dem votes were tossed. Smoking gun...