Complaint over Christopher Dodd’s Irish cottage dismissed

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, January 2, 2011, 8:59 AM

Updated Sunday, January 2, 2011, 9:05 AM

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Senator Chris Dodd's County Galway cottage

The U.S. Senate Ethics Committee has dismissed a formal complaint that Senator Chris Dodd’s Irish cottage was an inappropriate gift from a businessman.

Senator Dodd had maintained that the allegations brought forward by a conservative group were baseless and politically motivated.

Last year, Judicial Walsh questioned whether the price Dodd paid for his seaside home in County Galway was so low that it could have been viewed as a gift from real estate businessman Edward “Bucky” Kessinger.

The committee concluded that the evidence did not support the allegations.

Commenting on the judgment, Dodd said in a statement Wednesday that he appreciated the committee’s conclusion.

Tom Fitton, Judicial Watch’s president described the committee’s decision as “despicable” and said that Dodd showed potential criminal behavior.

Nster.com

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Searlit | Jan 04, 2011, 06:06 PM EST

Yes, he got a 'sweetheart deal'. At least, the last piece of legislation that he initiated was a bill protecting women and children which was signed in the lame duck session. Farewell to a human rights advocate. Wish I could purchase a home in Ireland. too.

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jflanagan | Jan 03, 2011, 01:53 PM EST

As Rennie (a lawyer and former Connecticut legislator) outlines, Dodd became part owner of the 10-acre Galway property in 1994 along with Missouri businessman William Kessinger, whom Dodd knew through investor Edward R. Downe Jnr, who had pleaded guilty the previous year to insider trading charges. The mortgage was listed as “between $100,001 and $250,000″. Downe was a witness to Kessinger’s purchase. In 2001, Dodd circumvented the US Justice Department to help get his pal Downe a full pardon on President Bill Clinton’s last day in office. The following year, Dodd bought off Kessinger’s two-thirds share of the “cottage” for, Dodd said, $127,000. You be the judge.

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mamaginnty | Jan 03, 2011, 12:45 PM EST

WHO PUT DA NAME "IRISH COTTAGE" ON DIS BUILDING, MY OULD IRISH COTTAGE HAD A THATCH ROOF, WIT A HOLE IN IT, NEVER TOT OF HAVING A SHOWER UNDERIT, DEN IT WAS A TIN ROOF, BOY WAS DAT COLD, 2 ROOMS DOWN, NO UP DA STERS THEN, AN NO TOYLET OR BAT, MR DODD CAN HAV IT AS DA GIFT ANYTIME, PS. WONDER IF HE WID DO A CLEAN SWOP.

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Scrivner | Jan 03, 2011, 11:31 AM EST

Usually I would give someone the benefit of the doubt, but Dodd's reputaiion for sleaze (his sweetheart mortgage, the negligent lack of oversight of Fannie Mae & Freddy Mac, etc.) make it downright impossible.

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cillowen | Jan 03, 2011, 11:17 AM EST

that's what friends are for

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wjb1tex | Jan 03, 2011, 09:23 AM EST

There is a lack of detail in this story. How much did he pay for the cottage ? What was the value of comparable homes in the area ?

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seamusmoore | Jan 02, 2011, 08:53 PM EST

@monsoonman, @newcanaan's post is why Dodd was probably acquitted, the value of the house dropped dramatically back to what he paid for it. Don't worry, though, his sweetheart mortgage deal on his primary US residence done with the now bankrupt Countrywide may yet come back to bit him in the arse.

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REM1875 | Jan 02, 2011, 05:03 PM EST

There is definitely something wrong with the "drain in the swamp." Let us hope that the new group can clear it but with this group in the Senate I have serious doubts.

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newcanaan | Jan 02, 2011, 03:12 PM EST

its now worth nothing.

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Monsoonman | Jan 02, 2011, 02:22 PM EST

Note the "ethics committee" is in the lame duck period of the senate. They wait until the last moment to clear the crook and there are no political repercussions for any of them.

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