Identity of Edwards home buyers veiled
Assisted-living magnates in SEC probe paid candidate $5.2 million
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16678472/from/RS.2/"Edwards aide Jennifer Palmieri said he left the details to real estate agent W. Ted Gossett. Gossett declined to reveal the Klaassens' identity but said the buyer decided to purchase the mansion as a "surprise Christmas gift" for his wife.
Edwards was told the Klaassens' name "in passing" around the time the offer came in on Dec. 18, Palmieri said last night, but he did not investigate further and had no knowledge of their business until a reporter's inquiry Wednesday. Palmieri said Edwards had not delved into the Klaassens' background: "They left it to be done at arm's length, real estate agent to real estate agent."
Asked about the allegations lodged against the Klaassens by their union stockholders, she added, "He believes all CEOs should follow the law, should protect their shareholders and should protect their workers, and he expects that will happen in this case as well."
"Ellen S. Miller, head of the nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation, which studies public officials' real estate deals, said presidential candidates should go the extra mile by determining who they are doing business with, especially when "a substantial amount of cash is changing hands on the eve of his campaign."......
"What went on there is totally inappropriate. It is very clear that very important insiders traded in this stock before it
became known publicly and before the stock took a hit," said Stephen Abrecht, the SEIU's pension chief. "The pattern of stock-option grants seen here pretty much follows the pattern we've seen in other companies that were hit by corporate-governance issues."
Abrecht said he was unaware of the Edwards home deal and would reserve judgment on it."