Think Progress

Bush staffer failed to disclose Conrad Black payments.

Black is currently on trial in Chicago for fraud and racketeering. Prosecutors allege he and three co-defendants stole $60 million from his former company, Hollinger Inc. Former Bush speechwriter David Frum has publicly defended Black against the charges. But Harper’s Ken Silverstein reports that between September and December 2000, Frum received $16,667 a month from Hollinger, an arrangement he has failed to disclose. Frum said he feels no need to reveal the payments when defending Black because disclosures “can easily become silly and pedantic.”




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17 Responses to “Bush staffer failed to disclose Conrad Black payments.”

  1. Badmoodman Says:

    Frum, your coined phrase "the axis of evil" will soon take on new meaning for you; TV, the Internets and newspapers.


  2. Keith Says:

    "Frum said he feels no need to reveal the payments when defending Black because disclosures 'can easily become silly and pedantic.'"

    Pardon my French, but GOD-DAYYYAAMN!


  3. Jay Randal Says:

    Just more corruption of the Bush Regime exposed.


  4. SKdeA Says:

    $16K+?
    That is one expensive male hooker!


  5. martin(fromcanada) Says:

    haha.. so much for the administration not commenting on ongoing legal preceedings


  6. Proud American Liberal Says:

    Gee, David Frum, boy am I surprised. NOT!


  7. Perry Logan Says:

    Don't worry. We have serially-linked supercomputers keeping track of all these scandals.


  8. VerbalKint Says:

    Just another corrupt liar who hates ethics and the rule of law.


  9. powkat Says:

    Eww - David Frum is one of the creepiest of the neo-cons. Not at all surprising that he's corrupt. And folks, it's not call the Bush Crime Family for nothing!


  10. powkat Says:

    And notice, no trolls here to defend him - he's toast.


  11. celtic cynic Says:

    Wonder if he declared this "largess" on his income tax return.
    IRS, are you listening and watching?


  12. Brad Says:

    It is shocking to me to see how quickly you all summarily 'convict' David Frum for 4 payments he received from Hollinger. Need I remind you that Hollinger employed hundreds of reporters/writers across the globe at various different news outlets; does that mean that none of these writers can comment on Conrad Black's guilt or innocence?

    WITHOUT question none of you who have posted comments against Frum would have put any trust in what he said anyway (payments or no payments) so why do you now act as if he *was* your most trusted pundit until this information came out!?

    The tragedy here is that you are all so blinded by your hatred for Conrad Black and the "neo conservative" agenda that he is said to represent that you can not objectively weigh the evidence that has now been presented by the prosecution. I have followed this case from day one and have read the evidence -- as presented by both left leaning and right leaning media outlets -- both filtered through my understanding of the law as an attorney. The prosecution has failed to meet its burden to establish that Conrad Black or any of his co defendants have committed a crime. What they have demonstrated is just how much of a bully the US justice system can be.

    There seems to be this knee jerk reaction on both the political right and left to just slam the other side whenever you can without necessarily considering the facts. So, someone like Keith will take a quote from David Frum out of context. Yes, Frum said that disclosures can become "silly and pedantic", however he said this after defending the payments as being in line with industry norms and right before saying: "Do I really have to mention that I used to write speeches for George W. Bush every time I write about him?". Somehow the context here makes a difference -- regardless if he should have disclosed the payments or not.

    I will promise not to prejudge ALL issues through my generally right of centre political views, IF you also agree to independently evaluate circumstances and not simply lash out, without all the facts just b/c an issue may appear to "hurt" the right.


  13. Looseheadprop Says:

    I too am a lawyer.

    I too have followed this case from the beginning.

    You and I must read different newspapers.

    For example read the recent Chicago Tribune article which describes the (literally) millions of dollars in personal expenses that Black had Hollinger
    pay for. And for which no tax was paid by either the Company or the Blacks. Additionally, those millions were dollars that belonged to the shareholders.

    This is Leona Helmsely all over again.


  14. Cal Says:

    David Frum's mother, Barbara, will rolling around in her grave right now. She was a top flight journalist in Canbada, considered to be one of the best interviewers in the world until her untimely death in 1992. She was revered for getting to the bottom of a story and exposing the truth.

    Her son has sullied her good name by taking payments and spreading W's propaganda. He can not get a pundit's job in Canada, But then again the Canadian media does not usually allow people on the air that can not back up what they claim.


  15. insultingconsulting Says:

    To Cal (comment 14): Exactly. David F. always was a bit brainless. Years ago, his commentaries on immigration issues struck me as those of someone who parked his brain under the keyboard before he started typing. Just as feeble-minded as his writings on Iraq and the rest. If the Bush administration relied on David for much of their advice, that helps to explain why it has turned out to be the worst and most incompetent administration in American history.

    And, yes, how a mother who was seemingly as intelligent (and upright and honest) as Barbara was, could turn out this sort of offspring. Well, that is one of life's mysteries, I suppose.


  16. Chris M Says:

    In response to Comment No. 12: enspector, is that you???


  17. Rob Says:

    David Frum also played a key role in the ascent of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to the leadership of the Canadian Alliance.



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