WASHINGTON, D.C. --Today the National Legal and Policy Center sharply criticized
SEIU (Service Employees International Union) President Andrew Stern for
his involvement in the Teamsters money laundering scheme.
According to U.S. District Court documents, SEIU President Andrew Stern,
among other prominent movers-and-shakers in the labor movement, was a part
of the complex schemes which improperly raised at least $538,000 for former
Teamsters President Ron Carey.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Conboy said that according to aides of former
Teamsters President Ron Carey that SEIU President Andrew Stern improperly
agreed to raise $50,000 for Carey's reelection effort. When Stern failed
to deliver on his promise SEIU lawyer Edgar James took the reins and raised
$16,000 of the amount pledged.
NLPC Chairman Ken Boehm said "It was improper for Andrew Stern or
Edgar James to pledge or raise money for Carey's reelection campaign. Besides,
as an employer, James is barred from soliciting funds for a union candidate."
Stern has been able to avoid media scrutiny lately because most of the
attention surrounding the scandal has been focused mainly on Carey.
"It is a disgrace that workers are misrepresented and harmed time
and time again by corrupt labor bosses. Today's appearance on C-SPAN by
Stern is just another way for the union boss to draw attention away from
his own corruption" stated Boehm.
NLPC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan foundation promoting ethics and accountability
in government. NLPC was a plaintiff in the lawsuit which succeeded in opening
the records of Hillary Rodham Clinton's Health Care Task Force. NLPC's
Organized Labor Accountability Project is investigating and exposing corruption
in the Teamsters, LIUNA, AFL-CIO and other labor organizations.
###
NOTE: For interviews to facilitate your coverage please contact Dan Rene
at drene@nlpc.org or (703) 847-3088. Also, Ken Boehm will be available
for interviews today.