Cornyn Took Caribbean Junket On Stanford's Dime

[ProSense]

Cornyn Took Caribbean Junket On Stanford's Dime

By Zachary Roth - February 17, 2009, 2:20PM

So we already knew that Allen Stanford -- the Texas banker charged by the SEC today with running an $8 billion "fraud of shocking magnitude" -- had some pretty impressive political contacts with both parties.

But it looks like his relationship with one of his home-state senators, Republican John Cornyn, may have been especially cozy.

According to Cornyn's Senate disclosure reports -- posted on the site Legistorm.com, which tracks privately financed trips by members of Congress -- the Stanford Financial Group paid for the Texas senator and an unnamed companion to take a November 2004 trip down to Antigua and Barbuda, the tiny Carribean nation where the company has its headquarters.

The three day trip is described by Legistorm as a "financial services industry fact-finding mission hosted by constituent company with substantial operations on site."

The site adds:

Sen. Cornyn discloses expenses for himself and a companion, but does not disclose the identity of the companion.

The total cost of the trip: $7,441.00

more

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. Unnamed companion... hmm....

[IndianaGreen]

20. Smells like a bimbo to me.

You know how wild about sex Republicans are in their double lives.

[firedupdem]

2. Fact finding my eye!

What facts did they find out?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. "Legistorm.com."

Transparency's sidekick.

Transparent is right.

[Jennicut]

4. Cornhead is consistently becoming one of the most vile Rethugs around.

[Avalux]

5. Not becoming - always has been.

We've long suffered with his arrogance and idiocy here in Texas. I absolutely detest that man.

[Jennicut]

7. I feel for you. I am just really noticing him now. We have Loserman here in CT

but at least Holy Joe sometimes votes more moderately on domestic issues.

[Cha]

9. How just desserts it would

be to bring down the arrogant goliath.

[beac]

6. Hey GOPers! EarlG has moved the Top10 to a bi-weekly schedule.

Any chance you could dial back the idiocy accordingly?*







* and yes, I realize this is no more likely than flying pigs, frozen Hades, etc. etc.

[tbyg52]

8. Oh, would I like to see that jerk get taken down! nt

[Fleshdancer]

10. Update: He says he took his wife

Fact finding mission my ass.

http://politicalblog.abc13.com/2009/02/sen-cornyn-took-stanford-sponsored-trip-to-antigua.html

This afternoon, Cornyn's office confirmed that he took the trip, and brought along his wife. He gave us a quote, "No one is above the law and prosecutors should follow the facts wherever they should lead."

Stanford Financial's troubles are expected to not only have a major impact on its investors, but also the Houston Community. The company is a big sponsor for sporting events that includes the Rockets, and the Houston Polo Club. The company occupied two buildings in prime Galleria real estate. The fallout continues.

[ProSense]

11. Gee, hope he remembers that

when the investigators come calling.

[karynnj]

14. That is still unethical

This was clearly just a vacation - and clearly a nice one - for the Cornyns. Unless Mrs Cornyn is a financial whiz who really was there looking through financial stuff, that can't be seen in Texas - much of that cost should not have been paid by the company.

[Fleshdancer]

16. Yep....

If he had taken someone other than his wife, he could have attempted to make it look like everything was pure business. Now it's even more obvious that this was a vacation and he tried to hide it when he didn't disclose that he took his wife with him.

[karynnj]

17. Good point

Though it is weird that he thought companion would look better.

[Fleshdancer]

18. I want to do some digging and see how many other times he has done this

If he's done this a lot, then using "companion" instead of "wife" might be what kept him under the radar until now because it's so generic.

[karynnj]

12. A three day financia services fact finding mission?

This rings so untrue - what exactly could he see - not including beautiful sand and sea - there that he couldn't be shown in his office? Unless the "companion" was his top financial aide and there really were things that could only be see there, why would the company pay for the "companion". (If it's his wife, it may satisfy his base, but that is still unethical.)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

13. If the "companion" wasn't really his wife, thar be some UNCOMFORTABLE dinner conversations at home.

[karynnj]

15. I hope if that is the case, that she becomes angry enough to

dump the jerk. More importantly is whether Cornyn did any "favors" for the company.

[opihimoimoi]

19. It was DONNA????

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Rice