Post by KNOWTHIS on Mar 11, 2008 17:45:23 GMT -5
cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/11/ashcroft-insists-no-wrongdoing-in-obtaining-corporate-monitoring-deal/
A Democratic lawmaker Tuesday accused former Attorney General John Ashcroft of receiving "what appeared to be a back-room, sweetheart deal" worth millions of dollars when his firm was named a corporate monitor to oversee a firm that avoided prosecution for suspected health-care fraud.
The allegation by Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-California, chairman of a House hearing into what are known as "deferred prosecution agreements," prompted a bitter objection from Ashcroft, who insisted he and his firm had done nothing wrong in connection with the deal, reportedly worth more than $25 million.
Under such agreements, companies avoid prosecution if they agree to make changes, which are overseen by monitors appointed by the Justice Department.
Ashcroft and Sanchez quarreled openly, attempting to talk over one another in a testy exchange. "There is not a conflict, there is not an appearance of a conflict," Ashcroft declared.
The allegation by Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-California, chairman of a House hearing into what are known as "deferred prosecution agreements," prompted a bitter objection from Ashcroft, who insisted he and his firm had done nothing wrong in connection with the deal, reportedly worth more than $25 million.
Under such agreements, companies avoid prosecution if they agree to make changes, which are overseen by monitors appointed by the Justice Department.
Ashcroft and Sanchez quarreled openly, attempting to talk over one another in a testy exchange. "There is not a conflict, there is not an appearance of a conflict," Ashcroft declared.
