CINCINNATI, Ohio—In a statement released on Aug. 5, the House Ethics Committee ruled that Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) had received—and must pay back—a total of $500,000 in multiple improper gifts from the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) between 2008 and 2010. Schmidt will not, however, face sanctions by the House as she was able to pin the blame for her behavior on her attorneys Bruce Fein and David Saltzman.
The Ethics Committee ruling does not clear Schmidt of impropriety, as she must amend her 2009 and 2010 financial disclosures and pay back the money to the TCA. Schmidt can no longer accept impermissible gifts to fund her defamation case against local Cincinnati businessman David Krikorian. “The Ethics Committee proved that we were right all along: Rep. Schmidt has received a half a million dollars in improper gifts from the TCA,” said Krikorian after the ruling.
“As I’ve stated publicly before, I neither sought nor intended to accept free legal services,” Schmidt said in a statement. “I have been waiting for the Ethics Committee’s advice as to the best way to pay these bills. Now that I have that advice, I look forward to continuing to work cooperatively with the Committee to ensure that these bills are paid appropriately.”
Krikorian considered Schmidt’s efforts to plead ignorance “laughable.” “Personally I find it hard to believe that Jean Schmidt did not know the facts regarding her own attorneys in legal actions which she commenced in her own name—I find that to be laughable!” he said. “The American people are tired of Congressmen and women who break the rules and get away with it by blaming someone else. The people of Ohio’s second district deserve better than an ignorant Congresswoman,” he added.
To read the statement of the House Ethics Committee, click here.
Since she did not know about these illegal acts, ( Ha Ha) I guess she in turn should sue her attorneys for defaming her good name. If you believe that I have ocean front property for give away in Arizona. and what else the House Ethics Committee needs $ 500,000 unreported funds, isn’t that enough?
The Turk’s paid Schmidt ONE HALF MILLION DOLLARS-she didn’t receive the monies??
Did her lawyers receive these monies from the Turks??
Now, if so, shall her lawyers return these monies to the Turks?? And is this issue over??
Now, that she has been ‘caught’ she says she was awaiting to do ‘next’ move…
But the greater queston is still unanswered!! Are Turks to be as the INNOCENTS in this mess??
Me thinks, as Shakespeare said… “something is rotten” – today, in Congress.
Schmidt has always had a shady past,she should be kicked out of Congress.Since she lied too,you cant believe anything .The investigating commitee should go farther,i.e.false farm subsidies and other govt monies to her and her friends,bribes from other groups.SHE IS ON THE TAKE!!!!!!!
Ahhh yes another Turkish apologist bites the dust! Rep Jean Schmidt was found guilty of accepting multiple “improper gifts” (i.e TCA BLOOD MONEY).
What a surprise…NOT! lol
The rock solid excuse – not – is that she labored under the illusion that TCA was representing her on a contingent fee basis, meaning they get nothing if she loses, and they take out of pocket costs and a cut if she wins. This might work theoretically for a contingency arrangement in a suit for money damages.
Two problems: the proceedings before the Ohio Elections Commission, in which the odious and rather poor trial advocate Fein appeared, were not for money damages, and she never signed or saw a contingency fee arrangement.
Congress is covering for her. Her excuse makes no sense.
The nice thing is that her idiocy is demonstrated, as is Krikorian’s charge.
I forgot: lawyers are not supposed to call non clients up and encourage them to sue people. I think that is called barratry, and I doubt the bars of DC or Ohio find it acceptrable.
So the TCA get what they wanted out of Schmidt and on top of that get $500K of their money back? Buying parts of the US congress is such a good deal these days.
So does the FBI actually investigate if US organizations with ties to foreign governments are trying to influence the US government? They probably given up a long time ago.
JDA… we missed you.. so glad to see you back on these pages… your contributions are well sought out..great comments…
Schmidt.. just like sly Turkish denialist caught red handed but twists things around to push the guilt away from her… HOW TYPICAL OF CONYVING Politician who has been a rat for the Turkish govt…. well MRS.. SCHMIDT you are GUILTY… no matter how ignorant you portray yourself (yeah.. you had no idea what your lawyers were about and what they were doing..such a joke) to be you were in the wrong and you should be thrown out of Congress.. plain and simple..
Mr. Krikorian I am thrilled that this was the outcome.. your claim was valid and accurate and i hope that she is put away on falsification and lying… Congratulations to you..You deserved this victory even though it could have been avoided if it was not for that slimy individual who has been getting loads of money from Turkish Coalitions……
Gayane
She is a snake and that ugly picture suits her so well. It’s a good thing that she lost her credibility forever. Nobody believes her pathetic story and she knows it so well but has no other choice: either accept the truth or pretend you are an idiot. She also had a $10,000 financed trip to Turkey where they obviously worked on her very well.
Was it worth selling your conscience for money, Ms. Schmidt? Hopefully, this will serve as a good lesson for the rest of the hypocrite politicians who serve the Turkish denialist government.
Krikorian should now sue Schmidt.
Mean Jean was just a temporary useful idiot for the Turks.
Try Danny Burton on for size. He has staying power. Always votes against Genocide recognition.
He has made getting Turkish and Azeri money a full time job. Recently he was correctly accused of also taking money from Pak agents, about which, like Jean, he claimed ignorance.
There is a sunlight foundation website you can use to see all the visits he and his staff received from the Turkish Embassy, the Turkish Government, the Azeri Government, and on and on in 2008.
He is on Edmonds’ list as a tritor to this country. He has company.