KY Governor Bashear Subpoenaed After Refusing To Divulge Saudi Connections
And Kentucky Horse Park Figures
Saudi Embassy Subpoenaed, Claims "Diplomatic Immunity"
/EINPresswire.com/Kentucky - August 22, 2011 -- Records of communications and meetings regarding money and plans with Saudi officials by Gov. Steve Bashear and his staff have been subpoenaed by the Federal Court. Gov. Bashear, now running for re-election, failed to comply with the initial Request for Open Documents on this information.
Saudi Arabia, in a public relations campaign while lobbying the US Congress for defense equipment, arranged and funded a $2.5 million 2010 Exhibit at the Kentucky Horse Park with Bashear's assistance. The Exhibit featured the Saudi's history and that of the Arabian horse. The event additionally hosted an opening dinner funded by the Saudis at the Kentucky Horse Park for members of Congress and influential citizens.
Kentucky Horse Park officials have since admitted in depositions that the KHP Foundation kept hundreds of thousands of dollars purportedly sent for the Exhibit while failing to divulge there was unspent funds. While the Exhibit was in development, Gov. Bashear carried on subsequent meetings and conversations with the Saudis in pursuit of more funding for undisclosed purposes, hosting a private dinner at the Governor's mansion for Saudi Prince Faisal bin Abdullah, former Deputy Director of Saudi Intelligence and son in law of King Abdullah. The Saudis are now lobbying Congress and the Administration for nuclear supplies. Members of the US Congress have voiced serious concerns about this request, noting concerns about the country's instability and the Saudi's oft stated goal of gaining parity with Iran's nuclear capabilities.
The Saudi Embassy, also subpoenaed, refused to comply with the subpoena claiming "Diplomatic Immunity." Representatives of the Embassy said they will invoke this same claim to refuse to appear in Court.
The Federal Court suit was brought by Jo Franklin, award winning journalist and filmmaker. Ms. Franklin, Producer of internationally broadcast documentaries on the Middle East and former Washington Producer responsible for the coverage of the White House, Congress, MidEast and Defense for Newshour on PBS, filed the suit when the Saudis aided by KHP tried to block the release of her film "A Gift From The Desert: The Arabian Horse." Throughout the filmmaking process, the Saudis repeatedly tried to interfere with the content, action prohibited by US networks, ultimately attempting to "destroy all copies of the film" as Saudi officials ordered when Ms. Franklin refused to make changes they demanded that she believed were factually misleading.
The film has received top reviews from Karen House, Pulitzer Prize winner and former Publisher of the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Carney Gavin, noted MidEast historian, the Board of the Arabian Horse Association, and National Champion riders. Ms. Franklin's films are in major university libraries worldwide. Her film "Days of Rage" has become the name of the revolution now underway throughout the MidEast. Saudi Arabia has recently been the site of one of the Days of Rage that has been carried out in Egypt, Syria, Yemen,Tunisia, Libya and Bahrain, with demonstrators protesting the lack of rights, government corruption, and calling for reforms and new governments.
Michael Adler of Tantalo and Adler representing the case said, "We're disappointed that the lack of response from the Governor's Office has required the use of formal subpoenas to help shed light on these matters."
###
Media contact:
Josephine Franklin
Seacastlefilm@aol.com
Saudi Embassy Subpoenaed, Claims "Diplomatic Immunity"
/EINPresswire.com/Kentucky - August 22, 2011 -- Records of communications and meetings regarding money and plans with Saudi officials by Gov. Steve Bashear and his staff have been subpoenaed by the Federal Court. Gov. Bashear, now running for re-election, failed to comply with the initial Request for Open Documents on this information.
Saudi Arabia, in a public relations campaign while lobbying the US Congress for defense equipment, arranged and funded a $2.5 million 2010 Exhibit at the Kentucky Horse Park with Bashear's assistance. The Exhibit featured the Saudi's history and that of the Arabian horse. The event additionally hosted an opening dinner funded by the Saudis at the Kentucky Horse Park for members of Congress and influential citizens.
Kentucky Horse Park officials have since admitted in depositions that the KHP Foundation kept hundreds of thousands of dollars purportedly sent for the Exhibit while failing to divulge there was unspent funds. While the Exhibit was in development, Gov. Bashear carried on subsequent meetings and conversations with the Saudis in pursuit of more funding for undisclosed purposes, hosting a private dinner at the Governor's mansion for Saudi Prince Faisal bin Abdullah, former Deputy Director of Saudi Intelligence and son in law of King Abdullah. The Saudis are now lobbying Congress and the Administration for nuclear supplies. Members of the US Congress have voiced serious concerns about this request, noting concerns about the country's instability and the Saudi's oft stated goal of gaining parity with Iran's nuclear capabilities.
The Saudi Embassy, also subpoenaed, refused to comply with the subpoena claiming "Diplomatic Immunity." Representatives of the Embassy said they will invoke this same claim to refuse to appear in Court.
The Federal Court suit was brought by Jo Franklin, award winning journalist and filmmaker. Ms. Franklin, Producer of internationally broadcast documentaries on the Middle East and former Washington Producer responsible for the coverage of the White House, Congress, MidEast and Defense for Newshour on PBS, filed the suit when the Saudis aided by KHP tried to block the release of her film "A Gift From The Desert: The Arabian Horse." Throughout the filmmaking process, the Saudis repeatedly tried to interfere with the content, action prohibited by US networks, ultimately attempting to "destroy all copies of the film" as Saudi officials ordered when Ms. Franklin refused to make changes they demanded that she believed were factually misleading.
The film has received top reviews from Karen House, Pulitzer Prize winner and former Publisher of the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Carney Gavin, noted MidEast historian, the Board of the Arabian Horse Association, and National Champion riders. Ms. Franklin's films are in major university libraries worldwide. Her film "Days of Rage" has become the name of the revolution now underway throughout the MidEast. Saudi Arabia has recently been the site of one of the Days of Rage that has been carried out in Egypt, Syria, Yemen,Tunisia, Libya and Bahrain, with demonstrators protesting the lack of rights, government corruption, and calling for reforms and new governments.
Michael Adler of Tantalo and Adler representing the case said, "We're disappointed that the lack of response from the Governor's Office has required the use of formal subpoenas to help shed light on these matters."
###
Media contact:
Josephine Franklin
Seacastlefilm@aol.com
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