Robert McCallum: Bush friend
The man President George Bush wants as the next US ambassador to Australia took
"aggressive actions" to destroy a multibillion-dollar fraud case against tobacco
companies, according to the US Government's top prosecutor in the case.
Robert McCallum, the US Associate Attorney-General, was said to have
undermined the case once it became apparent that prosecutors could win.
The
claims were made by Sharon Eubanks, who led the US Justice Department's
nine-month prosecution against the tobacco firms. Last week an internal Justice
Department inquiry found no wrongdoing by McCallum, clearing the way for him to
become the US ambassador in Canberra.
Controversy has dogged McCallum over
his role in slashing the penalty the Justice Department sought to impose on
tobacco companies from $US130 billion ($A174 billion) to $US10 billion. He was
also accused of pressuring three witnesses to tone down their testimony in
relation to the penalty.
McCallum was appointed to a senior Justice
Department post by Mr Bush and had oversight of the tobacco case.From the Melbourne Age
If George keeps posting his crooks overseas he might start running out descision enforcers at home.
But I'm sure Australia doesn't need any more crooked politicians or diplomats in the wqake of the Oil for Food scandal.
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