OH NO THOMMO - CRAIG COMES CLEAN
Well, this is a helluva shock.
I completely accepted the story that someone else snuck into Craig's hotel room, stole his credit cards, drove his car, used his phone, paid for hookers by forging his signature, looked just like him, then drove his car back to the hotel and snuck back into his hotel room and replaced his wallet, phone and cards. NOT (please note the healthy dose of sarcasm in this paragraph)
Former PM Gillard believed his story and so did the left and the left supporters who went out of their way to defend this Labor crook who STOLE from the lowest paid members of his union.
THOMSON LAWYER SAYS HE LIED OVER USING UNION MONEY FOR PROSTITUTES (Another Labor crook)
The Australian
A BARRISTER representing Craig Thomson has told a judge that the former Labor MP lied about using union money to pay for prostitutes because he was “under attack” for moral turpitude.
Thomson was convicted of 65 theft and dishonesty offences earlier this year relating to his use of Health Services Union credit cards to pay for escort services, personal travel and expenses while he was national secretary.
Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg sentenced him to a year in prison with nine months suspended, but Thomson has been free on bail pending his appeal which began yesterday in the Victorian County Court.
Thomson has repeatedly maintained his innocence, describing his decision not to dispute the facts of his spending as a tactic to cut legal costs.
But his barrister Greg James QC today told judge Carolyn Douglas that Thomson had publicly lied as an MP about using union credit cards for escorts to “divert” attention from the scandal.
“He was under attack as allegedly misusing the money by spending it on prostitutes,” Mr James said.
“To rebut that, he lies.
“He was under direct attack for moral turpitude. He was lying to divert the inquiry from him in respect of that moral turpitude.”
Judge Douglas replied that she recalled the interview Thomson gave to veteran journalist Laurie Oakes, in which Thomson said “it was not me” who used escorts and other union officials had access to his credit cards and driver’s licence details.
Thomson made a lengthy speech to Parliament in 2012 accusing factional enemies of threatening to frame him with prostitutes.
He moved to the crossbench after being suspended from the Labor caucus by Julia Gillard, and lost his seat at last year’s election.
Mr James told the hearing Thomson was entitled to use cash withdrawn from ATMs using his union credit card, and theft charges were inappropriate as the money had always belonged to the bank, not the HSU.
“It’s neither here nor there that the money came from members originally,” he said. “He had authority from the bank to use the card and use it as he did.”
The prosecution says it is “utterly implausible” Thomson had authority to use the credit cards on personal expenses.
The hearing continues.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/thomson-lawyer-says-he-lied-over-using-union-money-for-prostitu...
