From The Associated Press, 9/23/03:
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/florida/MGAWMEC5XKD.html
Tapes: Ex-University President Claims White House Connections
By Catherine Wilson Associated Press Writer
MIAMI (AP) -
A former president of the University of South Carolina boasted about
his White House connections to an undercover officer trying to net him
in a visa sting, according to tapes played at his trial Monday.
James Holderman called White House chief of staff Andrew Card "one of
my best friends in the world" and talked about having easy access to
the White House as the officer, posing as a Russian mobster, asked for
immigration papers.
Holderman also claimed close ties to former U.S. Secretary of State
Lawrence Eagleburger and former Tennessee Sen. Howard Baker.
Prosecutors acknowledge Holderman knows all three.
Holderman, who left the university in disgrace in 1990 after a
financial scandal, is charged with visa fraud conspiracy,
money-laundering conspiracy and visa fraud.
As university president for 13 years, he helped arrange visits by Pope
John Paul II and President Reagan.
In opening statements Monday, defense attorney Neil Nameroff blamed
government agents and Holderman's mental illness for his role in a $2
million money-laundering and visa sting.
Rafael Diaz Cabral, Holderman's former protege and a former Texas
college administrator, has been sentenced to 14 months in the case and
has agreed to testify against Holderman.
In four tapes played to jurors, Holderman chats about lunch last week
at the White House and a White House appointment the following day.
White House spokesman Taylor Gross confirmed that Card, a graduate of
the University of South Carolina, knew Holderman, but didn't know how
recent their contact had been.
Card is "prepared to intercede for us," Holderman told undercover
Miami Beach police Detective Sgt. Peter Smolyanski on a July 2002
tape.
"It's like Russia. It isn't what you know but who you know."
The month before, Holderman explained to an informant, "I don't work
at the White House, but I know the people there."
He added:
"The White House won't get paid anything. The lawyers in Washington
will get paid for it."
The informant is a convicted drug trafficker who steered investigators
to Holderman.
"This activity would have never occurred had Mr. Smolyanski not taken
the first step and originated this idea to break the law," Nameroff
told jurors.
"It is the duty of police to detect crime, not to create it."
He told jurors that Holderman has been under treatment for bipolar
disorder for years, "but still they targeted this man who was manic
depressive and down on his luck."
Holderman was trying to get money for his treatment, his attorney
said.
Nameroff concedes there was a lot of talk about visas, "but nothing
ever happens."
Holderman and Diaz were arrested in March counting $15,000 out of
$400,000 delivered by Smolyanski.
"They don't say no. They stay there and they count that money," said
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Gregorie.
"You don't ever hear them say, 'No, I'm not going to do this.'"
In the university financial scandal, Holderman pleaded guilty to
receiving extra compensation and no contest to state tax evasion
charges.
He also served nine months in prison after pleading guilty to
bankruptcy fraud in 1996.
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The Bush White House certainly has some purty strange bedfellows.
Harry
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