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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


Registered: 10/31/04
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Help from Hatch
#5835903 - 07/08/06 04:34 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Hatch Helps Spring Austin From Dubai Jail
Sat Jul 08, 3:54 PM ET
U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, a musician in his own right, helped secure the release of Atlanta R&B producer Dallas Austin from a Dubai jail after a drug conviction, the senator's office confirmed Saturday.
In a statement released through his staff, the conservative Republican said he was contacted by Austin's attorneys, then called the ambassador and consul of the United Arab Emirates in Washington on Austin's behalf.
A Grammy winner who has produced hits for Madonna, Pink and TLC, Austin was arrested May 19 and convicted of drug possession for bringing 1.26 grams of cocaine into Dubai.
On Tuesday a court sentenced him to four years in jail and said Austin, 34, should be deported after serving the term. Hours later, Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum pardoned and released Austin.
Beyond saying Hatch has "good relations with the ambassador and other good people in Dubai," his office gave The Associated Press no specifics about Hatch's dealings with the Dubai government.
Hatch spokesman Peter Carr said he did not know whether the senator and Austin had ever met, but he confirmed that both employ Atlanta entertainment lawyer Joel A Katz. Hatch has written and recorded hundreds of religious and patriotic songs.
Katz and Washington attorney Joe Reeder traveled to Dubai to try to secure Austin's release, The New York Times reported in a story published Saturday. Musicians Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones also intervened as character references, the paper reported.
Carr said it was former Hatch staffer Nancy Taylor who contacted the senator about Austin, the Times reported. Taylor, who worked for Hatch on health care issues until 1991, now works with Reeder at Greenberg & Traurig.
Austin's attorneys said they enlisted Hatch's help because he has influence with Dubai, the paper reported. Hatch this year supported the Dubai-based DP World in its bid to manage several American ports.
In his statement, Hatch said he was "grateful to the leaders of Dubai for agreeing to provide a workable and compassionate solution for this situation."
He also said he was confident Austin "will learn from this experience."
Comments anyone?
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
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Phred
Fred's son


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Must be a hoax. Everyone knows Orrin Hatch is a bigoted old white anti-drug neocon religious loony. No way he'd help out a black druggie.
Phred
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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


Registered: 10/31/04
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Re: Help from Hatch [Re: Phred]
#5835973 - 07/08/06 04:47 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Thank God it was just smuggling cocaine into a foreign country and not something REALLY serious like burning a flag in protest.
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
Edited by LunarEclipse (07/08/06 04:48 PM)
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Mezcal
Registered: 08/11/05
Posts: 1,980
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Re: Help from Hatch [Re: Phred]
#5836164 - 07/08/06 05:26 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


Registered: 10/31/04
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Re: Help from Hatch [Re: Mezcal]
#5839871 - 07/09/06 06:36 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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I find it interesting that I got only one response on this post (other than a link) by Phred who made a joke out of it.
I wonder what the reaction from the board (or the country) would be had Hillary Clinton used her influence to get a convicted drug smuggler's conviction and prison sentence "pardoned". One can imagine it would have been anything but muted.
Further, Senator Hatch, a few years ago proposed the "Victory Act" bill which would have greatly increased the power of the government to link terrorism and drug crimes AKA "narcoterrorism." It wasn't passed. Still, for the Senator to propose this legislation and later get personally involved with the "pardoning" of a convicted drug smuggler seems hypocritical at best.
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
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zappaisgod
horrid asshole

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The thing about Hatch that is being ignored is that they are acquainted through the music industry (he actually is a recording artist, hehe, himself) and, I believe, share a lawyer. It doesn't hurt to know a Senator.
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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


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Re: Help from Hatch [Re: zappaisgod]
#5839981 - 07/09/06 07:10 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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The article stated they both have the same entertainment lawyer, they both play a musical instrument, so what exactly is being ignored?
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
Edited by LunarEclipse (07/09/06 07:13 PM)
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zappaisgod
horrid asshole

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The follow through in the thread.
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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


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Re: Help from Hatch [Re: zappaisgod]
#5840038 - 07/09/06 07:28 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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The follow through in the thread.
Do you want me to tuck you in after I read you the story?
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
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zappaisgod
horrid asshole

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Quote:
LunarEclipse said: The follow through in the thread.
Do you want me to tuck you in after I read you the story?
Do you have nice tits?
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