Baby Doc’s lawyer is Republican leader, Libertarian prez nominee
Bob Barr speaks for Baby Doc Duvalier
An American attorney representing Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier said Saturday that the former dictator returned to Haiti in hopes of recovering millions frozen in Swiss bank accounts and channeling them through a U.S. intermediary to help rebuild his troubled homeland.
In the past, Duvalier has attempted to personally claim the $5.7 million in a bank account belonging to a family foundation. But attorney Ed Marger said the highly controversial and polarizing former leader now wants to use the money to help Haiti…
Marger is working with two other Georgia attorneys — former Republican congressman Bob Barr and Mike Puglise — to find a company that could transfer those funds…
Duvalier could face charges of human rights abuses committed under his leadership. Amnesty International wants Duvalier to face justice for the alleged torture and killings of thousands of Haitians.
Barr, who represented Georgia’s 7th District from 1995 to 2003, and was the Libertarian Party’s 2008 presidential nominee, said Saturday that the allegations against Duvalier are just that.
“I deal with allegations all the time,” he said. “They are the cheapest commodity on the market.”
Barr said he returned to Port-au-Prince for the first time in nearly 30 years because he believed Duvalier is genuinely interested in alleviating Haiti’s suffering. He said the three American lawyers were not involved in Duvalier’s legal problems in Haiti. They were there to advise him on international matters…
He has laid claim to the $5.7 million in Switzerland but that battle has dragged on for a quarter century…
After the earthquake, Duvalier pledged some of the money to the Red Cross for relief efforts. His attorney in Haiti, Reynold Georges, told CNN that Duvalier had already transferred money to the agency.
“There have been media reports for more than a year about a donation from Mr. Duvalier for Haiti earthquake relief, but the American Red Cross has no record of ever receiving any donation from him,” said Laura Howe, spokeswoman for the Red Cross.
In any case, she said, the Red Cross is not willing to accept Duvalier’s money.
Baby Doc Duvalier’s funds are no less bloody than his father’s original fortune. Gathered by torture and murder through his Tonton Macoutes gangsters, his anguish results only from failure to grab all the money when he fled the country – courtesy of the US Air Force and Ronald Reagan.
Swearing innocence until proven guilty is a bit difficult even for a reactionary like Bob Barr I would imagine. Baby Doc couldn’t even succeed in acquiring legitimate status as a political exile in France. Though he tried in the courts to do so. I imagine he thought that would expedite funds beyond those he stole away with.
Yes, even Hitler’s henchmen received fair trials and competent representation in the Nuremberg Trials. But, that’s not what Bob Barr is about. That’s not what Baby Doc has declared for the past three decades. It’s all about the money.
Birds of a feather, etc..
Just because the teabaggers are the current news in reactionary politics doesn’t mean they have the staying power of a prick like Barr.
god
January 23, 2011 at 8:03 am
Barr is the type of lawyer that gives all lawyers a bad name.
Yes, I realize even lawyers have to eat. Yet, here Barr eating is from the mouths of thousands that couldn’t because it was taken from them.
Mr. Fusion
January 23, 2011 at 10:18 am
A unprosecuted Liar who is accused of mutilation and killing, a lawyer who is trying to help him regain money he stole from the poor and an ex-US Congressman all in the same story. Pathetic, unjust, typical.
And again, money is the root of all __________. Or in this case is it crooks/liars/politicians are the root of all ___________________.
I say continue to expose the bastards. (and I rarely, if ever curse) Yes birds of a feather but also if the shoe fits…….
E Trams
January 23, 2011 at 11:13 am