Ohio Coingate reaches U.S. Treasury (U.S. Mint)

[deminks]

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060402/NEWS24/60402016

via Raw Story

http://www.rawstory.com/

WASHINGTON — In the months before Tom Noe came under scrutiny for his state-funded rare-coin venture, he used a federal appointment to forge relationships with U.S. Mint officials that opened doors for him on Capitol Hill, documents obtained by The Blade show.

And before he was brought down by scandal last year, the coin dealer helped persuade Congress — for the first time in the nation’s history — to authorize the minting of a 24-karat gold coin.

Mr. Noe’s quest to become a Washington power broker and to help redesign all U.S. coins fell apart last year when controversy gripped the $50 million rare-coin investment he managed for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and federal authorities announced they were investigating the GOP fund-raiser for allegedly laundering political contributions to President Bush’s campaign.

In May, 2003, the White House and House Speaker Dennis Hastert recommended that Mr. Noe get a seat on the influential 11-member committee. Treasury Secretary John Snow appointed Mr. Noe, less than six months after the Toledo-area coin dealer expressed interest in joining a Mint committee to Henrietta Fore, then director of the Mint.

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. 'Allegedly laundering political contributions to President Bush’s campaign

Ah, I love the smell of allegations in the morning.

[MelissaB]

2. kicking this republican stench in Ohio

:kick: