Disgraced Fundraiser 'a True Bon Vivant'

Four cases, six defendants, $1.1M in contributions

(NEWSER) - A number of Hillary Clinton’s top fundraisers are now caught up in criminal cases, including Galen Capital Group Chairman William P. Danielczyk Jr., who was indicted last week. There are now four major federal cases involving six defendants who raised a total of more than $1.1 million for Clinton’s 2006 Senate campaign and 2008 White House campaign, the Washington Post reports. Danielczyk is accused of skirting campaign finance limits by illegally reimbursing almost $190,000 in donations he'd nominally solicited from others. More»

Stumps for one-time nemesis Jerry Brown, rallies Dems

(NEWSER) - Bill Clinton gave dazed Democrats a swift kick last night, telling California voters to get out the vote, lest they commit "malpractice on your own future." Stumping for onetime nemesis and would-be governor Jerry Brown, the former president told a UCLA rally to give President Obama and Democrats time to finish the job: "It is not enough to have voted for a new president if you will not help him govern and stick behind the members of Congress who stood for him." More»

In what could be priciest gubernatorial race ever

(NEWSER) - Billionaire Republican Meg Whitman reported yesterday that she has spent more than $99 million in her quest to become California's governor, including $71 million just to win the Republican primary. Democrat Jerry Brown, who didn't have a serious primary opponent, has spent just $450,000, plus $324,000 in donated services, but he has $23 million on hand. The race is shaping up to be the most expensive gubernatorial race in US history, according to the AP . More»

Newsom's decision makes Jerry Brown virtual lock for Dem nod

(NEWSER) - Citing his responsibilities as San Francisco mayor and as a new father, Democrat Gavin Newsom withdrew today from the race to succeed Arnold Schwarzenegger as California governor. Despite the heavyweight endorsement of Bill Clinton, Newsom has had trouble raising money; his departure leaves state attorney general, and former governor, Jerry Brown virtually unchallenged for the party’s 2010 nomination. More»

(NEWSER) - Norman Hsu is a man of many hats, but the Hillary Clinton fundraiser extraordinaire, Ponzi schemer, and onetime fugitive has been sentenced to wear them in prison for the next 24 years. While significantly less than the 30 years prosecutors had asked for, Hsu’s lawyer tells the Wall Street Journal that his client plans an appeal. Though Hsu has admitted guilt, he says the prosecution inflated the size of his Ponzi scheme, which is taken into consideration when sentencing. More»