Headline on today's Stabroek online version.
Waiting to get a copy.
Can anyone post what is in the NY Media
Government watchdog wants probe of Queens Rep. Gregory Meeks' $40G loan
BY Benjamin Lesser
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, July 14th 2010, 4:00 AM
Miller/NewsQueens Rep. Gregory Meeks disclosed the 2007 just last month. Related NewsArticles
Queens congressman tries to hide $50G in loansFBI looking into secret $40,000 personal loan to Queens pol MeeksQueens Rep. Gregory Meeks has home fit for a kingMeeks: $55G in undisclosed loans an 'oversight' Meeks taps Dem fund-raiser to help pay back $40,000 loanA government watchdog group has asked the Office of Congressional Ethics to probe a $40,000 loan Queens Rep. Gregory Meeks received from a local businessman.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) asked for the review in response to a series of Daily News articles about the loan.
Meeks publicly disclosed the January 2007 loan for the first time last month.
He acknowledged he had failed to properly report the loan on House disclosure forms the previous two years, calling it an "oversight."
The News later reported that Meeks repaid the loan shortly after the FBI started asking Queens businessman Ed Ahmad about the money he lent to the congressman.
"Rep. Meeks got caught with his hand in the cookie jar and came up with an after-the-fact explanation to justify his conduct," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW.
Sources say the loan had no interest rate, no collateral, no repayment schedule and no due date.
Meeks claims that there was a 12.5% interest rate on the loan.
The congressman sent Ahmad a check for $59,000 after taking out a $59,650 loan on June 18, secured by his house, from personal friend and Democratic fund-raiser Dennis Mehiel.
A letter filed by CREW accuses Meeks of violating House ethics rules by failing to properly report the loan or get required approval before accepting it. The letter calls the loan an improper gift.
If the OCE finds that there is "substantial reason to believe the allegations," staffers will refer the matter to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct for further action.
In response, Meeks said in a statement, "To address oversights in my 2007 and 2008 filings, I have made all necessary amendments to ensure compliance with House disclosure rules.
"It is unfortunate that Citizens for Responsibility in Ethics in Washington is now using distorted and sensationalized media reports as the basis for a complaint to the Office of Congressional Ethics."
blesser@nydailynews.com
Waiting to get a copy.
Can anyone post what is in the NY Media
Government watchdog wants probe of Queens Rep. Gregory Meeks' $40G loan
BY Benjamin Lesser
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, July 14th 2010, 4:00 AM
Miller/NewsQueens Rep. Gregory Meeks disclosed the 2007 just last month. Related NewsArticles
Queens congressman tries to hide $50G in loansFBI looking into secret $40,000 personal loan to Queens pol MeeksQueens Rep. Gregory Meeks has home fit for a kingMeeks: $55G in undisclosed loans an 'oversight' Meeks taps Dem fund-raiser to help pay back $40,000 loanA government watchdog group has asked the Office of Congressional Ethics to probe a $40,000 loan Queens Rep. Gregory Meeks received from a local businessman.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) asked for the review in response to a series of Daily News articles about the loan.
Meeks publicly disclosed the January 2007 loan for the first time last month.
He acknowledged he had failed to properly report the loan on House disclosure forms the previous two years, calling it an "oversight."
The News later reported that Meeks repaid the loan shortly after the FBI started asking Queens businessman Ed Ahmad about the money he lent to the congressman.
"Rep. Meeks got caught with his hand in the cookie jar and came up with an after-the-fact explanation to justify his conduct," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW.
Sources say the loan had no interest rate, no collateral, no repayment schedule and no due date.
Meeks claims that there was a 12.5% interest rate on the loan.
The congressman sent Ahmad a check for $59,000 after taking out a $59,650 loan on June 18, secured by his house, from personal friend and Democratic fund-raiser Dennis Mehiel.
A letter filed by CREW accuses Meeks of violating House ethics rules by failing to properly report the loan or get required approval before accepting it. The letter calls the loan an improper gift.
If the OCE finds that there is "substantial reason to believe the allegations," staffers will refer the matter to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct for further action.
In response, Meeks said in a statement, "To address oversights in my 2007 and 2008 filings, I have made all necessary amendments to ensure compliance with House disclosure rules.
"It is unfortunate that Citizens for Responsibility in Ethics in Washington is now using distorted and sensationalized media reports as the basis for a complaint to the Office of Congressional Ethics."
blesser@nydailynews.com