U.N. General Assembly president accused of taking bribes

How could that smile be
guilty?

Former U.N. General Assembly president John William Ashe (no relation to the late Arthur Ashe) is accused of taking half a million dollars in bribes from Chinese businesses, but on the plus side, he took his family to an $850-a-night hotel room where they had a great time with some of the bribe money.

The current president of the UNGA said "corruption has no place" there but did not specify where corruption has a place. Hillary Clinton wants to know.

Ashe put the money to good use, it appears, buying custom suits, Rolex watches and using it to pay his mortgage and construct a basketball court at his Dobbs Ferry home.

He was arrested on Tuesday.

Ashe is a former U.N. ambassador from Antigua and Barbados and served as head of the 193-nation assembly from September 2013 to September 2014. He faces tax fraud involving a conspiracy of five others including Francis Lorenzo, a deputy U.N. ambassador from the Dominican Republic currently living in the Bronx but soon may relocate to the "state pen."

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said "I wouldn't be surprised if we see other people charged."

Samantha Power, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. was not available for comment.

If found guilty, Ashe may be spending more time with FIFA officials in prison than basketball enthusiasts on his newly constructed home court.


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