Saudis Issue Threats - KY Governor Subpoenaed About Saudi Money, Plans
/EINPresswire.com/October 3, 2011 -- Threats were issued from Saudi Arabia to organizations attempting to write about the film "A Gift From the Desert" and "ordered" award-winning journalist and filmmaker Jo Franklin not to communicate with Saudi citizens about the film. Ms. Franklin is the Director of "Days of Rage" which has been adopted as the name of the revolution now spreading across the MidEast.
Concurrently, Gov.Steve Beshear, produced "Junk" response to subpoena for communications and meetings by the Governor and staff regarding money and plans with Saudi officials. Beshear, now running for re-election, produced a file devoid of any pertinent correspondence, only massive amounts of irrelevant material, traditionaly viewed as a tactic to give the appearance of complying with a subpoena.
The Governor's repsonse follows depositions by Kentucky personnel which contained false information.
The Saudi Embassy, also subpoenaed, refused to comply claiming "Diplomatic Immunity" and say they will invoke "Diplomatic Immunity" again to refuse to appear in Court.
The ever-widening scandal originated when 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 Beshear's assistance. The Exhibit featured the Saudi's history and that of the Arabian horse. An opening dinner was funded by the Saudis at the Kentucky Horse Park for members of Congress, the Defense establshment, and influential citizens..
Kentucky Horse Park officials have now admitted in depositions that the KHP Foundation kept $300,000 of Saudi money purportedly sent for the Exhibit while failing to divulge there were unspent funds. Prior to these funds, KHP received another $100,000 from horse breeders to develop the project and could account for only the cost of one plane ticket as having actually been spent on the project. KHP officials failed to recall many pertinent facts of KHP operations when deposed claiming a "feeble memory." The Exhibit was deemed an attandance failure by KHP citing only 30,000 viewers after billing the event as a "Blockbuster" that would attract 300,000. A KHP official has since confirmed the figures, presented under oath, were false.
While the Exhibit was in development, Gov. Beshear carried on subsequent meetings 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 the country's instability.
The United Nations is focused on the volatile situation in the MidEast as protestors in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere demand civil rights. The UN also published a strong denunciation of Saudi Arabia's lack of rights for women. The Saudis' announcement that women would be given the "future" right to vote was viewed by most experts on Saudi Arabia as a publicity attempt to assauge UN criticism since it removes none of the everyday restrictions in their lives. The Saudis also have a longstanding history of copyright violation and intellectual property theft. .
The Federal Court suit, represented by Micahel Adler of Tantalo and Adler, was brought by former Museum Board member, Jo Franklin, Producer of internationally broadcast documentaries on the MidEast and former Washington Producer of the coverage of the White House, Congress, MidEast and Defense for "Newshour" 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 tried to interfere with content, action strictly prohibited by US networks, culminating in their move to destroy the film when Ms. Franklin refused to make changes regarding women, foreign workers, Saudi history and current reality she believed were factually misleading.
The film has received top reviews from Karen House, Pulitzer Prize winner former Publisher of the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Carney Gavin, noted MidEast historian, the Board of the Arabian Horse Association, and National Champions.
Contact:
Michael Adler
madler@ta-llp.com
http://www.arabianhorsedvd.com
###
Concurrently, Gov.Steve Beshear, produced "Junk" response to subpoena for communications and meetings by the Governor and staff regarding money and plans with Saudi officials. Beshear, now running for re-election, produced a file devoid of any pertinent correspondence, only massive amounts of irrelevant material, traditionaly viewed as a tactic to give the appearance of complying with a subpoena.
The Governor's repsonse follows depositions by Kentucky personnel which contained false information.
The Saudi Embassy, also subpoenaed, refused to comply claiming "Diplomatic Immunity" and say they will invoke "Diplomatic Immunity" again to refuse to appear in Court.
The ever-widening scandal originated when 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 Beshear's assistance. The Exhibit featured the Saudi's history and that of the Arabian horse. An opening dinner was funded by the Saudis at the Kentucky Horse Park for members of Congress, the Defense establshment, and influential citizens..
Kentucky Horse Park officials have now admitted in depositions that the KHP Foundation kept $300,000 of Saudi money purportedly sent for the Exhibit while failing to divulge there were unspent funds. Prior to these funds, KHP received another $100,000 from horse breeders to develop the project and could account for only the cost of one plane ticket as having actually been spent on the project. KHP officials failed to recall many pertinent facts of KHP operations when deposed claiming a "feeble memory." The Exhibit was deemed an attandance failure by KHP citing only 30,000 viewers after billing the event as a "Blockbuster" that would attract 300,000. A KHP official has since confirmed the figures, presented under oath, were false.
While the Exhibit was in development, Gov. Beshear carried on subsequent meetings 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 the country's instability.
The United Nations is focused on the volatile situation in the MidEast as protestors in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere demand civil rights. The UN also published a strong denunciation of Saudi Arabia's lack of rights for women. The Saudis' announcement that women would be given the "future" right to vote was viewed by most experts on Saudi Arabia as a publicity attempt to assauge UN criticism since it removes none of the everyday restrictions in their lives. The Saudis also have a longstanding history of copyright violation and intellectual property theft. .
The Federal Court suit, represented by Micahel Adler of Tantalo and Adler, was brought by former Museum Board member, Jo Franklin, Producer of internationally broadcast documentaries on the MidEast and former Washington Producer of the coverage of the White House, Congress, MidEast and Defense for "Newshour" 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 tried to interfere with content, action strictly prohibited by US networks, culminating in their move to destroy the film when Ms. Franklin refused to make changes regarding women, foreign workers, Saudi history and current reality she believed were factually misleading.
The film has received top reviews from Karen House, Pulitzer Prize winner former Publisher of the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Carney Gavin, noted MidEast historian, the Board of the Arabian Horse Association, and National Champions.
Contact:
Michael Adler
madler@ta-llp.com
http://www.arabianhorsedvd.com
###
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