Disgraced Democratic donor Hassan Nemazee has just six more weeks of freedom after pleading guilty this afternoon to a $292 million bank-fraud scheme that prosecutors say could send him to prison for nearly 20 years.Nemazee also donated money in 2009 to Charles Schumer, Harry Reid, Al Franken, Joe Biden and Kirsten Gillibrand, among others. According to records none of them have returned the money. Schumer, you may recall, also received massive amounts from Madoff.
The Harvard-educated con man begged to remain free on bond until his June 30 sentencing so he can spend time with his wife and family before being tossed in slammer.
"I have never intended to flee. I've had ample opportunity," Nemazee, 60, said in Manhattan federal court.
Defense lawyer Paul Schectman also argued that "there really is nothing to run with," adding that Nemazee hadn't paid him a nickel beyond his original retainer and was living "very modestly" -- albeit in a plush Park Avenue apartment -- on handouts from friends and relatives.
But Judge Sidney Stein ordered the fallen fund-raiser -- who was national finance chairman for Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign -- to surrender on April 30, citing his history of international travel and the possibility he may have stashed "tens of millions" in missing loot overseas.
"He certainly has had an extremely successful fraud up to now," the judge said.
Nemazee also raised money for Barack Obama.
Nemazee was listed as one of the top "bundlers" of contributions to Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, according to OpenSecrets.org, a website run by the Center for Responsive Politics.Back in 2008 he hosted a lavish fundraiser for Obama and was also nominated by Bill Clinton as ambassador to Argentina.
He typically donated more than $100,000 annually to Democratic Party political candidates, including Obama and now-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Surely this will be as big as the Jack Abramoff scandal, right? Nah, probably not.
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