Lawyer for Chiquita in Colombia Death Squad Case May be Next U.S. Attorney General

November 20th, 2008

Change™ and Hope™, now with 100% more WTF!?

Via: Huffington Post:

In its recent report entitled, “Breaking the Grip? Obstacles to Justice for Paramilitary Mafias in Colombia,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) had specific recommendations for the U.S. Department of Justice. Specifically, HRW recommended that, in order to assist with the process of ending the ties between the Colombian government and paramilitary death squads, the U.S. Department of Justice should, among other things, “[c]reate meaningful legal incentives for paramilitary leaders [a number of whom have already been extradited to the U.S.] to fully disclose information about atrocities and name all Colombian or foreign officials, business or individuals who may have facilitated their criminal activities,” and “[c]ollaborate actively with the efforts of Colombian justice officials who are investigating paramilitary networks in Colombia by sharing relevant information possible and granting them access to paramilitary leaders in U.S. custody.”

Do not expect these recommendations to be carried forward if Eric Holder decides to forgo his lucrative corporate law practice at Covington & Burling and accept the U.S. Attorney General position for which many believe he is the top contendor. Eric Holder would have a troubling conflict of interest in carrying out this work in light of his current work as defense lawyer for Chiquita Brands international in a case in which Colombian plaintiffs seek damages for the murders carried out by the AUC paramilitaries – a designated terrorist organization. Chiquita has already admitted in a criminal case that it paid the AUC around $1.7 million in a 7-year period and that it further provided the AUC with a cache of machine guns as well.

Indeed, Holder himself, using his influence as former deputy attorney general under the Clinton Administration, helped to negotiate Chiquita’s sweeheart deal with the Justice Department in the criminal case against Chiquita. Under this deal, no Chiquita official received any jail time. Indeed, the identity of the key officials involved in the assistance to the paramilitaries were kept under seal and confidential. In the end, Chiquita was fined a mere $25 million which it has been allowed to pay over a 5-year period. This is incredible given the havoc wreaked by Chiquita’s aid to these Colombian death squards.

3 Responses to “Lawyer for Chiquita in Colombia Death Squad Case May be Next U.S. Attorney General”

  1. anothernut says:

    Funny, “Won’t Get Fooled Again” is over 25 years old now, but it still makes a point so few people get.

  2. pdugan says:

    Back when I lived in North America, where the bananas are all branded imports, I once read about the history of Guatemala. The next morning I was having a banana and I noticed the sticker said “guilt-free snacking”.

  3. John Doh says:

    That bum was also knee deep in the Elian Gonzalez thing.
    Probably Waco,…. & worse too.
    Who are these people,where do they find these ghouls?
    Hoo-ahhh! (lol)

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