Document links Thatcher to US corruption
probe
The Mirror (UK)
KEEP IT SEALED KEEP IT SECRET By Bob Roberts Deputy Political Editor
3 October 2005
A DOCUMENT linking Margaret Thatcher to a US corruption probe is so
explosive civil servants have been asked to ensure it remains "sealed".
The 79-year-old former Premier is said to have met Congressman Tom DeLay in
Britain while he was on a suspected favours-for-freebies scam.
In return for his free holiday, DeLay - who resigned as Republican leader of
Congress last week after being accused of laundering political funds -
allegedly backed legislation favourable to lobby groups.
Disclosing that US authorities were seeking aid from UK counterparts, a
secret Home Office briefing says: "One visit to the UK involved a meeting with
Mrs Margaret Thatcher.
"Evidence is sought from her about that meeting and her involvement in the
alleged deception and violation of US criminal laws."
Police will "sensitively" investigate the meeting, which took place in May
2000.
In the dossier headed "Secret...wider circulation strictly forbidden", civil
servants then warn ministers: "There would be considerable press interest in
this case if it were to become public knowledge.
"We have been asked by the US to keep this request 'sealed', which we take
to mean as confidential as possible. This has been relayed to the Crown Office
and Metropolitan Police.
"Our normal line is that we neither confirm nor deny the existence of any
request until it is in the public domain and there is no reason to change that
course of action here."
The revelations will be a body-blow to Lady Thatcher's reputation and dash
Tory morale on the opening day of its crucial party conference.
If Lady Thatcher is found to have been involved in the alleged scam she
could face a criminal probe in the US or even be banned from travelling to the
country.
Her spokesman confirmed police had been in contact about the DeLay meeting.
But he insisted there was no question of wrongdoing.
The document, leaked to the Mirror, informs ministers there has been an
official request for "mutual legal assistance" from the US Department of
Justice in Washington.
It said the request was part of a deception investigation "involving
high-profile American and UK-based individuals, including a leading Congressman
and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher". At the centre of the probe is
high-profile lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is already under investigation in the
US.
The document says: "US officials are investigating whether Abramoff was
involved in obtaining legislative assistance from public officials in exchange
for arranging and underwriting trips to the UK."
Investigators are also probing whether the public officials filed false
reports relating to the trips.
The holidays involved playing golf at St Andrews in Scotland, dinner with
unnamed members of the Scottish Parliament, theatre trips in London and luxury
hotel accommodation.
Mr DeLay's staff also scheduled a meeting with Lady Thatcher.
The briefing adds that police investigating the meeting "have been asked to
handle these inquiries sensitively given the nature of the individual concerned
and the background to the request". Members of the Scottish Parliament will be
questioned concerning any contacts they may have had with Abramoff, DeLay or
members of their party.
Scottish police will collect hotel record, bills, invoices, and
statements.
Lady Thatcher's spokesman said last night: "An approach was made to her
office to confirm the bare details of the particular meeting. At this stage we
are expecting nothing further.
"Lady Thatcher met Mr DeLay as as one politician meeting another. It was in
no way a business meeting."
The Thatcher family's reputation has tarnished since she left office.
Her son Mark, 52, was fined £265,000 last year for helping to organise
an attempted coup in Equatorial Guinea.
There are also growing fears about the health of Lady Thatcher, who is 80
next Thursday.
Yesterday she was described as "increasingly forgetful and forbidden to
speak in public".
She has had a number of strokes and is said to have been badly shaken by the
collapse of her son's marriage.
Congressman DeLay, nicknamed The Hammer because of his tough-guy reputation,
denies criminal conspiracy relating to party funds.
Abramoff insists he is innocent of any wrongdoing concerning millions of
dollars in funding he received for helping Indian tribes set up casinos in
their tribal homelands.
A Home Office spokesman said: "We neither confirm nor deny receipt of
requests of legal assistance."
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