Norman Hsu Skips Bail Hearing; His Whereabouts Unknown (Wizbang)

Oh boy, this could be very, very big. From Fox News:

California businessman Norman Hsu, a former New York apparel executive and major contributor to Democratic candidates and causes, failed to appear for a bail reduction hearing Wednesday, leading to speculation that he again is a fugitive from the law, FOX News has learned.
Hsu's attorneys say they do not know his whereabouts, and that their client did not surrender his passport.

Hsu turned himself in to authorities last week after more than 15 years on the run from a felony conviction of grand theft. He admitted to defrauding investors of $1 million in a bogus investment scam.

He failed to appear in court for sentencing on that 1991 conviction, a revelation that prompted high profile Democrats -- including presidential candidate Hillary Clinton -- to return thousands of dollars donated by Hsu.

The man has a history of running from the law, so why in God's green earth was he not forced to surrender his passport before now? Allahpundit jokes: "Maybe he's stuck in traffic?" This does not look good for the Dems. One of their biggest donors is again on the lam.

The LA Times reports that a warrant has been issued for his arrest:

A warrant was issued this morning for Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu, who failed to appear this morning for a bail hearing on a 15-year-old grand theft charge.
Superior Court Judge Robert Foiles ordered Hsu, a major fundraiser for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign, to be held without bail should he make an appearance. Last week, he was released after posting $2 million bail.

Hsu's attorney James Brosnahan, explained that he had lost contact with Hsu and that the financier had failed to deliver his passport as promised.

"Mr. Hsu is not here and we don't know where he is," Brosnahan said outside court. "We expected him to be here."

Brosnahan told Foiles that a legal assistant for his law firm went to Hsu's New York City condominium last week and spent 90 minutes searching for Hsu's passport.

They couldn't find his passport? Did he hide it with the intention of taking off?

Question: What did Hillary know and when did she know it?

Update: The NYT:

Mr. Hsu, who had been free on $2 million bond, was scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Redwood City at 9 a.m. Pacific time to surrender his passport. But when the appointed time came and went with no sign of Mr. Hsu, his lawyer and prosecutors met in chambers with the judge, who then announced he was revoking Mr. Hsu's bail and issuing a new warrant for his arrest.

So, two and a half hours later, no Mr. Hsu. If he hasn't shown up yet, he's not going to. Ever.

And then there's this utter stupidity:

Ralph Sivilla, an assistant California attorney general, said the government had believed that the $2 million bail and Mr. Hsu's agreement to remain in the country were sufficient to ensure that he would not flee.
"Those circumstances seemed to suggest he was not a flight risk," Mr. Sivilla said. "I don't know at this point what our next step will be."

Not a flight risk? Good God, man, Hsu fled before. He most certainly was a flight risk.

Update II: Hsu's companies don't seem to exist either. From Philip Klein from the American Spectator blog:

I spent yesterday digging for some answers about the mysterious Democratic fundraiser and confessed grand thief Hsu and wound up with more questions.
In campaign finance reports, Hsu's companies are listed as: Next Components Ltd., Cool Planets Ltd., Because Men's Clothes, and Dilini Management. But none of the companies have online footprints or appear in fashion industry directories that I have searched. The only official recognition of any of these companies that I have found is Next Components, in the form of a filing for a certificate of corporation with the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations -- but even that doesn't hold up to closer scrutiny. The filing was from May 6, 2005, and when I called the Division of Corporations, a representative there told me that the filing needed to be renewed every two years for a fee of $9, but Next Components never responded to the renewal notice.

The filing lists 561 Seventh Ave., Suite 1301 as the address for Next Components, but I called Handro Properties, the management company that runs the building, and was told that not only have they never heard of Next Components, but "Suite 1301" doesn't even exist.

Everything about this guy is deceitful. No wonder the Clintons like him so much.

Update III: Rick Moran at Right Wing Nut House:

Well, that's just peachy. His defense team has known for a week that his passport is missing and didn't bother to tell authorities? Especially given this guy's past history of skedaddling when the heat is on?
So the story will die and Hillary is safe. Funny how this kind of thing always happens to the Clinton's just in the nick of time.

How convenient.

Comments (60)

With friends/supporters lik... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Linoge | September 5, 2007 1:28 PM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)

Linoge:

With friends/supporters like this guy, Hillary almost does not need detractors!

Posted on September 5, 2007 13:28

So much for making this sto... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Falze | September 5, 2007 1:47 PM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)

Falze:

So much for making this story disappear quickly.

Posted on September 5, 2007 13:47

So much for making this ... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by MagicalPat | September 5, 2007 1:58 PM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)

MagicalPat:

Exactly. Self preservation rears its ugly head yet again.

Posted on September 5, 2007 13:58

Did Hillary make sure he di... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by nikkolai | September 5, 2007 2:00 PM | Score: 7 (9 votes cast)

nikkolai:

Did Hillary make sure he did not have to surrender his passport? Or did Bill? Something does not pass the smell test here. Smells like Clintons....

Posted on September 5, 2007 14:00

Either he's M.I.A because t... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by LAB | September 5, 2007 2:00 PM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)

LAB:

Either he's M.I.A because the Dems left him S.O.L., or so the Clintons can stay "shocked", they gave him a get out of jail free via "disappearance" card.

?: Is this sufficient enou... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by yo | September 5, 2007 2:12 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

yo:

?: Is this sufficient enough evidence for Patrick Kennedy to give back his Hsu donations, now?

And ..., um .. duh! Why didn't the judge take his passport at bond hearing?

Posted on September 5, 2007 14:12

Has anyone checked Ft. Marc... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Metprof | September 5, 2007 2:12 PM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)

Metprof:

Has anyone checked Ft. Marcy Park?

Actually, I just read that ... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by yo | September 5, 2007 2:19 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Actually, I just read that Hsu WAS asked for his passport, but .. uh .. his dog ate it.

Seriously, he told the judge he couldn't find it, and the judge was expecting him to bring it with for this hearing.

Of course, he also expected Hsu to bring himself to the hearing.

Wow. Idiots.

Hong Kong Phoney.

Posted on September 5, 2007 14:19

Hsu has learned all the rig... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by Drago | September 5, 2007 2:20 PM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)

Drago:

Hsu has learned all the right lessons regarding the Clintons. He's hoping that Hillary will get elected and, just like Marc Rich, he will get the pardon he "paid for".

Posted on September 5, 2007 14:20

Could this be the fly in th... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by moseby | September 5, 2007 2:21 PM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)

moseby:

Could this be the fly in the ointment for the teflon twat?

Posted on September 5, 2007 14:21

Drago, how f'd up would it ... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by yo | September 5, 2007 2:23 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Drago, how f'd up would it be if Hsu were found dead within the next few days?

If that were the case, I may just HAVE to vote for Hill.

Posted on September 5, 2007 14:23

I have this mental image of... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by DJ Drummond | September 5, 2007 2:25 PM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)

DJ Drummond:

I have this mental image of Hillary swearing.

Loudly.

In Chinese.

ABOUT the Chinese.

To her Triad connections.

Posted on September 5, 2007 14:25

Has anyone checked... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by Jason | September 5, 2007 2:25 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Jason:

Has anyone checked Billary's basement? You don't kill off a cash cow like Hsu.

Marc Rich was never CONVICT... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by madmatt | September 5, 2007 2:26 PM | Score: -16 (16 votes cast)

madmatt:

Marc Rich was never CONVICTED of anything...he was seeking a pre-emptive pardon using SCOOTER LIBBY as his lawyer. You know what a pre-emptive pardon is...Gov Fletcher of KY gave them to all his crony's so they could not testify against him!

And if you are going to return campaign funds given by scumbags, why did george never return his Enron money?

Posted on September 5, 2007 14:26

You know madmatt, Crack and... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by DJ Drummond | September 5, 2007 2:30 PM | Score: 13 (13 votes cast)

You know madmatt, Crack and posting comments just do not go together ... You might want to give one up.

Posted on September 5, 2007 14:30

Allahpundit jokes:... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by langtry | September 5, 2007 2:38 PM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)

langtry:

Allahpundit jokes: "Maybe he's stuck in traffic?" This does not look good for the Dems. One of their biggest donors is again on the lam.

Heretofore, being 'on the lam' has been very good to V.I.P. democrat donors.

Just ask Marc Rich.

Posted on September 5, 2007 14:38

In most situations where a ... (Below threshold)

17. Posted by Jim Addison | September 5, 2007 2:58 PM | Score: 11 (11 votes cast)

Jim Addison:

In most situations where a defendant is granted bail and ordered to surrender his passport, he doesn't get out until the passport is turned in. Evidently the judge bought the "can't find it" story, which should have been a big flashing red light.

In any event, skipping out on $2 million isn't chicken feed. This guy must have been extremely anxious not to face the charges.

Since every business reference he's given has lead to a dead end and no one knows where his money comes from, is it safe to assume Mr. Hsu doesn't want us to know where his money originates?

Just wondering . . . perhaps the leftists who are always jumping in with multiple comments on other threads can actually shed some light on this one?

Posted on September 5, 2007 14:58

"perhaps the leftists who a... (Below threshold)

18. Posted by yo | September 5, 2007 3:06 PM | Score: 11 (11 votes cast)

"perhaps the leftists who are always jumping in with multiple comments on other threads can actually shed some light on this one?"

... crickets.

Posted on September 5, 2007 15:06

"Marc Rich was never CONVIC... (Below threshold)

19. Posted by Falze | September 5, 2007 3:14 PM | Score: 13 (13 votes cast)

"Marc Rich was never CONVICTED of anything...he was seeking a pre-emptive pardon using SCOOTER LIBBY as his lawyer."

Oh, this is just too funny, thanks for brightening up my humpday. Yeah, it is indeed hard to be convicted...sorry...CONVICTED of anything when you flee the country and renounce your citizenship. Lots of innocent people do that. All the time. Lots of them. Every day. Uh huh.

Posted on September 5, 2007 15:14

Of course it's big; Fox Ne... (Below threshold)

20. Posted by Charles H. Fields | September 5, 2007 3:15 PM | Score: -13 (15 votes cast)

Charles H. Fields:

Of course it's big; Fox News says it is. Looks like they're even ranking it above Anna Nicole Smith's psychiatrist's financial woes. *And* "Man Charged With Assault for Throwing Cheetos at Dad."

Wow, don't git no bigger than that!

Posted on September 5, 2007 15:15

Hsu's money has <a href="ht... (Below threshold)

21. Posted by Steve Crickmore | September 5, 2007 3:20 PM | Score: -3 (11 votes cast)

Steve Crickmore:

Hsu's money has made in China written all over it..Hillary and Bill's ties to these Asian moghuls almost make me wistful for the Bush family's Saudi's connections...

Posted on September 5, 2007 15:20

Yo, madmatt has already att... (Below threshold)

22. Posted by Drago | September 5, 2007 3:20 PM | Score: 13 (13 votes cast)

Yo, madmatt has already attempted the "Marc Rich" deflection, the Ernie Fletcher deflection, AND the Enron deflection, yet somehow, is incapable of expressing any concern about Hsu.

Worse, madmatt is going to hang his hat on the "Marc Rich was never convicted of any crime" ploy, neglecting to mention (innocently, I'm quite sure), that Marc Rich was a fugitive from justice after being indicted for Tax Evasion (Not Paying His "Fair Share"!!) and for illegal trading with our enemy Iran (supporting our enemies!!)

I think we can see what the left's talking points will be.

BTW madmatt, ALL of Enron's funny accounting ocurred during the Clinton admin. It was after Bush came into office that the SEC went after them. Further, MORE Enron political contributions went to the Dems than to Repubs.

Ouch! Those pesky facts again.

Poor madmatt. It's back to the BryanD-certified-lefty Pravda-backed recommended talking points.

Charles Fields: "Wow, don't... (Below threshold)

23. Posted by Drago | September 5, 2007 3:24 PM | Score: 11 (11 votes cast)

Charles Fields: "Wow, don't git no bigger than that!"

Thats right Charles. ANOTHER Clinton campaign financier flees the country to avoid prosecution.

Nothing to see here.

Nope.

Move along.

Posted on September 5, 2007 15:24

Hey Chuck, is it b... (Below threshold)

24. Posted by yo | September 5, 2007 3:26 PM | Score: 11 (13 votes cast)

Hey Chuck,

is it big news because Fox says it is, or is it big news since CNN isn't even covering this? Or that ABC, NBC, CBS et al are going out of their way to lump all sorts of other stories atop this one (ie - bury)?

ABC ranks this below a picture essay of the human body.

Whatever, dude. Nice to see that you're trying to get in front of the talking points, but you're still just lame, lame, lame.

On a side note - can't wait for the release of the "Red Hsu Diaries"

Posted on September 5, 2007 15:26

Karl Rove picked him up and... (Below threshold)

25. Posted by Roy | September 5, 2007 3:28 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

Roy:

Karl Rove picked him up and drove him to Cheney's underground safe-house. It should keep him around for a few more news cycles.

Posted on September 5, 2007 15:28

Anyone check the basement o... (Below threshold)

26. Posted by marc | September 5, 2007 3:37 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

marc:

Anyone check the basement office in the Clinton Library?

Charles H. Fields - guess in your pathological hatred of Fox you didn't notice the words "his could be very, very big" were written by the author of the post and not Fox News.

In your delusions you also failed to note all the other MSM outlets that have headlines this story.

Nitwit.

Posted on September 5, 2007 15:37

Another clinton cronie on t... (Below threshold)

27. Posted by spurwing plover | September 5, 2007 3:58 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

spurwing plover:

Another clinton cronie on the run again i mean the clintons surrounded themselves with crooks.hoods,thugs and 70s radical extremists and thats what was never mentioned in bills book MY LIES

Posted on September 5, 2007 15:58

Maybe Hsu's hiding out unde... (Below threshold)

28. Posted by Mitchell | September 5, 2007 3:59 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Mitchell:

Maybe Hsu's hiding out underneath Hillary's skirt (Oh, sorry, she only wears pants).

Maybe hidin' under Bill's girlfriends' skirt?

Posted on September 5, 2007 15:59

MSG, the current onslaught ... (Below threshold)

29. Posted by pudge | September 5, 2007 4:32 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

pudge:

MSG, the current onslaught of consumer merchandise that's killing / poisoning every citizen, the $13,000 I lost on a dubious latex gloves "investment", Nancy Kwan, the mysterious meat things in my "chow fun" and for the last 15 years or so that I call, "Apocolypse Clinton", the many occurences of theft of our national defense secrets and not-so-stereotypical Chinese (money)laundering. These are but a few of the things The Peoples Democratic of China has served up steamin', on a horribly thin paper plate, since our Flying Tigers and other mercenaries went over their to fight the mass murdering Japanese, once upon a time.

Me thinks we'll be getting some better stuff from "The Iraq", even if it is "only" oil. Lesson ? We should've stayed and gone all the way with the liberation of the Chinese. There's about 60 mil. dead that would be grateful to us for it. (not to mention all the mail order brides we could be getting to fill the void of all these "N.A.G."s and lesbians the American male has had to manuever around for the past 50 years or so)

Posted on September 5, 2007 16:32

Eh. If this was a GOP donor... (Below threshold)

30. Posted by cbmc | September 5, 2007 4:45 PM | Score: -3 (7 votes cast)

cbmc:

Eh. If this was a GOP donor you'd be calling this a witch-hunt or a "non-story." SS, DD.

Posted on September 5, 2007 16:45

So his companies don't even... (Below threshold)

31. Posted by Paul | September 5, 2007 4:54 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Paul:

So his companies don't even exist???

Where is that Wayne idiot who was defending this debacle last week?

Posted on September 5, 2007 16:54

Maybe he's ... dare I say i... (Below threshold)

32. Posted by Oyster | September 5, 2007 5:01 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

Oyster:

Maybe he's ... dare I say it? ... dead.

Posted on September 5, 2007 17:01

NON story ALERT. This wont... (Below threshold)

33. Posted by billy | September 5, 2007 6:41 PM | Score: -8 (8 votes cast)

billy:

NON story ALERT. This wont stick. It isnt like Hillary was driving the get away car for his 1980's "crime".

It isnt like hillary was bribed by him to vote a certain way. Only the GOP does that and we Americans know it. So keep dreaming and keep hoping for Democratic America's defeat you fascists.

Posted on September 5, 2007 18:41

I'm no conspiracy theorist,... (Below threshold)

34. Posted by Eric | September 5, 2007 7:28 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

Eric:

I'm no conspiracy theorist, but I guarentee you, one way or another, this guy will never testify against Hillary. Look for him to have an unfortunate accident or suicide.

Posted on September 5, 2007 19:28

Yep, we'll know the Hillary... (Below threshold)

35. Posted by John S | September 5, 2007 7:50 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

John S:

Yep, we'll know the Hillary campaign is getting serious when people around her start dying (again).

Posted on September 5, 2007 19:50

With friends/ supporters li... (Below threshold)

36. Posted by Robert | September 5, 2007 8:04 PM | Score: -4 (4 votes cast)

Robert:

With friends/ supporters like this guy...

But the RNC talking points will be revved up to smear her and her husband anyway, just in case.
And the liberal (ha ha ha) MSM will brainlessly recite the smears because..they are so liberal (?)

BTW, checkout yesterday's Daily Howler at www.dailyhowler.com to see what I mean.

36. Posted by Robert | September 5, 2007 8:04 PM |

Norman Hsu Skips Bail Hearing; His Whereabouts Unknown

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Comments (60)