The Associated Press State & Local Wire June 22, 2000, Thursday, BC cycle 8:39 PM Eastern Time HEADLINE: Lazio: SEC has launched informal probe of my stock trades BYLINE: By MARC HUMBERT, AP Political Writer DATELINE: ALBANY, N.Y. Blasting the Clinton administration, U.S. Senate candidate Rick Lazio said Thursday the Securities and Exchange Commission has launched an "informal investigation" into his stock option trading. The congressman from Long Island is running for the Senate in New York against Hillary Rodham Clinton. Lazio has denied any wrongdoing in connection with his stock dealings. In a statement, Lazio said he had "received a request from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission that we provide them with copies of certain account statements and trading records. "I intend to provide all information requested as well as answer any questions that the staff may have," Lazio added. While Lazio talked cooperation, his campaign staff went on the attack. "The Clinton administration has a long history of abusing federal authority and using government bureaucracies to attack their political opponents," Lazio campaign manager Bill Dal Col said in a statement. "Today, they reached a new low." There was no immediate comment from the SEC. Clinton campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson said, "Desperate candidates make desperate charges." On Monday, state Comptroller H. Carl McCall, a Clinton supporter, said he had written to SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt Jr. asking for an investigation of Lazio's stock option trading. McCall, the sole trustee of New York's more than $127 billion public pension fund, called for the probe after it came out that Lazio scored a nearly 600 percent profit trading on options for stock in a company headed by political supporters. Lazio campaign spokesman Dan McLagan said that on Thursday members of the news media were told about the SEC's informal investigation by federal officials. Also Thursday, independent counsel Robert Ray said he had found substantial evidence of involvement on the part of the first lady in the White House travel office firings, but insufficient evidence to indict her on perjury charges. "The fact that a bogus investigation, launched at the behest of a Hillary Clinton supporter, carried out and leaked to the media by a federal government agency, occurred on the day that substantial evidence about her involvement in the 'Travelgate' scandal began to come out, does not pass the political sniff test," Dal Col said. "The fact that federal employees apparently leaked word of this investigation, thus committing a felony and risking their very freedom, speaks volumes of how far Hillary Clinton will go to further her political career," Dal Col added. Statements of support, and outrage, came quickly from Lazio supporters. "It's more than outrageous, it's borderline illegal," Rep. Thomas Reynolds, a western New York Republican, said. "For eight years, We've suffered through scandal after scandal in the Clinton-Gore administration and now Mrs. Clinton is bringing her dirty laundry and Arkansas tactics to New York," said state GOP Chairman William Powers. Records show that Lazio spent about $2,300 in early August 1997 for options on stock of Quick & Reilly, a brokerage firm. On Sept. 17, 1997, the firm was bought by the Fleet Financial Group. Lazio sold his stock options that same day for almost $16,000. Peter Quick and Christopher C. Quick, former senior executives of Quick & Reilly, who along with other company executives have donated at least $35,000 to Lazio's campaigns since 1995, said they had never discussed the company's stock with Lazio. Lazio also denied any insider knowledge. The first lady has also faced questions about her financial investments. She turned a $1,000 investment in the cattle futures market into nearly $100,000 during a nine-month period in 1978 and 1979, when her husband was attorney general and then governor of Arkansas. She denied any wrongdoing in those transactions. She was assisted in her trades by an executive of Tyson Foods, which had extensive business before Arkansas state regulators. ================================================================= Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> *Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day. ================================================================= <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html <A HREF="http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om