The Hsu (Shoe) Fit and Brunner Wore It

The Associated Press reports that scandal-tainted Democratic fundraiser, Norman Hsu (pronounced “shoe”), has been convicted in federal court for his campaign finance law violations.  Hsu was found guilty of allegations that he reimbursed his business colleagues for their political donations (same federal crime committed by Ohio’s own Tom Noe).

Hsu gained notoriety as a prominent fundraiser for Hillary Clinton’s failed presidential bid as well as many other prominent Democrats.  The Associated Press also reports that, just days ago, Hsu pled guilty to 10 counts of wire and mail fraud and cheating investors out of $20 million in a Ponzi scheme.

One thing that the Associated Press, or the rest of the national media for that matter, will fail to mention: Hsu once had his scandalous eyes cast toward helping Ohio’s Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner, in her 2006 election.

According to the Columbus Dispatch’s August 31, 2007 account of the issue, Brunner actually traveled to New York to speak at Hsu’s home:

“Brunner isn't certain whether the $3,000 she got from Hsu on Nov. 9, 2006, came from a campaign fundraising letter or through a Democratic National Committee appeal, spokesman Jeff Ortega said. But Brunner did speak at Hsu's New York home on June 27 this year at the request of the Twenty-First Century Democrats, which held a fundraiser there, he said.”

This was just another example of out-of-state ideologues trying to inject someone to do their bidding into the Ohio Secretary of State’s office to tilt the playing field in 2008.  Unfortunately, they succeeded.