Cheney Target of Criminal Investigation

Though neglected by major media in the United States, international news
sources report that French law enforcement authorities have made Vice President
Dick Cheney the target of a criminal investigation for his role in a massive
bribery scandal during his time as CEO of Halliburton. Le Figaro, one of France's
biggest (and most conservative) newspapers, reports "an investigative judge
is looking into allegations of corruption during construction of a natural gas
complex in Nigeria by Halliburton" and a French oil company. The international
AP newswire reported on 10/11/03 that the judge is "looking into who may have
benefited from nearly $200 million in potentially illegal commissions
allegedly handed out from 1990 to 2002." In May, Halliburton admitted that, under
Cheney's stewardship, it paid "$2.4 million in bribes to Nigerian officials to
get favorable tax treatment." Halliburton now says it is cooperating with a
simultaneous review by the Security and Exchange Commission.

THE POTENTIAL CHARGES: The London Financial Times reports the investigation
specifically focuses on the criminal charges of "misuse of corporate funds" and
"corruption of foreign public agents." The Sydney Australia Morning Herald
reports the investigative judge is specifically targeting Cheney for his
"alleged complicity in the abuse of corporate assets."

THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES: Though the investigation is being spearheaded by
French law enforcement, the UK Guardian notes, it would be prosecuted under
international laws agreed to by the United States in a 35-nation treaty signed
in 1997, meaning the consequences could be very real. The treaty, "under the
auspices of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, aims to
fight corporate attempts to buy the favors of public authorities abroad." Not
coincidentally, the London Financial Times points out that the Bush
Administration is using similar agreements to aggressively "seek the extradition and
pressing claims against senior French finance industry executives connected with
the Credit Lyonnais purchase of Executive Life, the failed Californian
insurer."

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