"I love you, I believe in you" GOP Rep Pete Sessions e-mails disgraced Stanford

[Smash255]

This doesn't look good.....

U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions hasn't responded to a report that he sent a supportive e-mail to banker R. Allen Stanford hours after Stanford was charged with swindling $7 billion from investors.

But the wording attributed to Sessions "resembles" something he might say to a "person in crisis," the congressman's spokeswoman said Monday.

The Miami Herald reported Sunday that Sessions expressed his loyalty to Stanford at 11:31 a.m. on Feb. 17, hours after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged the banker with bilking thousands of investors.

"I love you and believe in you," said the e-mail reportedly sent by Sessions, a Dallas Republican. "If you want my ear/voice – e-mail," said the message signed "Pete."

The newspaper did not say how it obtained the e-mail. It was featured prominently in a story revealing that federal officials are investigating $2.3 million in campaign contributions Stanford gave members of Congress, including Sessions.

Although the donations were previously known, Justice Department investigators are now looking to see whether Stanford was given special treatment by lawmakers he supported.

Sessions declined to comment to the Miami Herald and could not be reached Monday.

Emily Davis, his spokeswoman, said her office can't authenticate the e-mail, but she said that "Congressman Sessions believes that its contents resemble language he would use to communicate with a person in crisis to encourage right decisions and prevent further tragedy."

"With that being said, the congressman maintains the position that Mr. Stanford should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Davis said.

She added that Stanford "had everyone fooled" initially and that as "his scheme has become clear," Sessions withdrew his support.

Federal investigators are looking at lavish trips Stanford hosted for members of Congress, as well as the campaign money. Sessions met with Stanford on two Caribbean trips. Stanford also helped raise almost $40,000 for Sessions during a hard-fought election against former Rep. Martin Frost in 2004. Sessions won.

Sessions, who is chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee, has co-signed a letter to the head of the SEC, urging that investors who were defrauded be covered by investor-protection programs.

"The alleged Ponzi scheme carried out by Allen Stanford ... was one of the most substantial financial crimes ever carried out in the U.S." and it "devastated" thousands of investors, the letter said.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/DN-sessions_29met.ART.State.Edition1.4bc1468.html

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Why is it that all of our NRCC chairmen are crooks? Cole was a corrupt fool, and Reynolds performed miserably in 2006.

[Grumps]

It's a shame Stanford didn't use his brilliance for decent purposes.  No one can do what he's done without extreme savy and knowledge and personality.  Everyone gets caught, but the enormity of his deception is rarely found.

[JSojourner]

Dumb question...I should know this.  Is Pete Sessions a distant relative of Jeff, the Senator?  The name seems awfully uncommon.   (And they are certainly cut from the same cloth, ideologically.)

[Rob]

Why is it that all of our NRCC chairmen are crooks?

Because you're in a party run by rich crooks, for the benefit of rich crooks?

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Why is it that all of our NRCC chairmen are crooks?

Because you're in a party run by rich crooks, for the benefit of rich crooks?

Oh $hit!  You got us!

[Lunar]

I was so tempted to post this when the story broke a number of days ago, but I decided to hang back and watch the stew boil.

[Dr. Cynic]

If they really wanted to be jerks, they could take that line and try and get Sessions knocked out for being teh gayz.

[Magic 8-Ball]

Dumb question...I should know this.  Is Pete Sessions a distant relative of Jeff, the Senator?  The name seems awfully uncommon.   (And they are certainly cut from the same cloth, ideologically.)

Not that I know of, but his father was the Director of the FBI during the 80s.

[Rob]

Why is it that all of our NRCC chairmen are crooks?

Because you're in a party run by rich crooks, for the benefit of rich crooks?

Oh $hit!  You got us!

What's this "us"? I was talking about the goals of the national leadership. Your response is more like the Wal-Mart clerk who, when confronted with an attack on policies set in corporate headquarters, says "we don't do that!"

I'd call you a hired gun, but they don't pay you, do they?

[JSojourner]

Dumb question...I should know this.  Is Pete Sessions a distant relative of Jeff, the Senator?  The name seems awfully uncommon.   (And they are certainly cut from the same cloth, ideologically.)

Not that I know of, but his father was the Director of the FBI during the 80s.

Thanks, Magic.  I do remember the Dad. 

[Kevin]

Why is it that all of our NRCC chairmen are crooks?

Because you're in a party run by rich crooks, for the benefit of rich crooks?

Cough, cough, Chris Dodd, cough, cough!