Tom Joyner reported that Orrin Hatch and Lionel Ritchie interceded

[CatWoman]

on behalf of a drug dealer.


This is the first I've heard of this.

I did a google search, and found the story: http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc-dallas0710.artjul10,0,6226189.story?coll=hc-headlines-nationworld

why in the world would Orrin Hatch do this? Is he trying to look "cool"?

After all of that flag burning nonsense, this definitely does not compute. :shrug:

[htuttle]

1. It's that RIAA money he takes

Comes with some strings attached, apparently.

on edit:

I should add, when I read a story about this story over the weekend, it mentioned that the person busted for dealing drugs was a record producer.

[bryant69]

2. Perhaps discomfort at it being a foriegn jail?

He is jingoist. Perhaps he just didn't like the idea of Americans being held by another government.

Bryant
check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Virginia Dare]

3. It was reported in the Washington Post today as well...

it struck me as rather odd as well. I'm sure there's another story behind this story, as usual.

[cal04]

NYTimes article on that: That's What Friends in High Places Are For

Senator Hatch made numerous phone calls on Mr. Austin's behalf to the ambassador and consul of the United Arab Emirates embassy in Washington — Dubai is one of the seven emirates — and served as an intermediary for Mr. Austin's representatives, the producer's lawyers said.


The senator declined to be interviewed or to confirm details of his efforts on Mr. Austin's behalf, but he issued a statement acknowledging his involvement and said he was asked by Mr. Austin's lawyers to help.

A spokesman for Mr. Hatch said that the senator was a proponent of rehabilitation for drug offenders, and that he had worked to revise federal sentencing guidelines regarding cocaine, and, through legislation in 2005, had advocated treatment for nonviolent offenders and the easing of restrictions on medication to treat heroin addiction.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/08/arts/music/08pard.html?hp&ex=1152417600&en=4eb717d9c1de93c9&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[goclark]

6. Huum ~ very interesting nt

[CBGLuthier]

4. Where do you get drug dealer from?

I don't think the man would make much selling a gram and a half of coke.

It's the same old BS. He has money and probably made a "donation" to Hatch in return for his help.

[CatWoman]

5. sorry

that's what Tom Joyner called him.

[peekaloo]

7. I'm sure we'll see an Austin produced CD of Whorin's "patriotic music"

in the near future. :sarcasm:

maybe he wanted to get him home in time for his induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame this fall. }(

[jwirr]

8. Orin Hatch is LDS. Could this Ausin be LDS?

Religious trumps law?

[kestrel91316]

10. Entirely possible, and makes sense of this strange situation.

[KingFlorez]

9. I sure this guy has a lot money

That alone is enough for somebody like Hatch to help him