Yep, we balance our budget by enabling criminal behavior and, more specifically, the evasion of criminal behavior. In this case, at least nine Delaware LLC’s formed for the sole purpose of laundering Manafort/Gates filthy lucre. Not to mention LLC’s created solely to launder international drug cartel dollars.
Here is the official response from our appointed criminal enablers:
In the meantime, Bullock’s office and members of the Delaware Bar have balked at toughening the LLC approval process, explaining that it would be cost-prohibitive and result in application processing delays.
Would-be judge Melanie George Smith has been running interference for the Secretary of State, putting the brakes on legislation designed to keep these dangerous elements from evading the law:
The (Kowalko-sponsored) legislation would prevent any individual, groups or business entities flagged as a security threat by federal agents from operating in Delaware. The bill also requires that the state’s registered company agents and the Secretary of State screen applicants against a federal sanctions list, which includes terrorists and drug traffickers.
In June, the House Judiciary Committee tabled Kowalko’s bill in a 6-3 vote. At the time, Rep. Melanie George Smith, D-Bear, an attorney with the Wilmington law firm of Richards, Layton & Finger, said she couldn’t support it because the language had not been vetted by a group of corporate lawyers with the Delaware State Bar Association who review all proposed legislation dealing with corporations.
Smith, who works as a pro bono coordinator for her firm, did not return a phone call Tuesday.
Her firm is a major enabler of these LLC’s. She shouldn’t be anywhere near this legislation. This also demonstrates why she shouldn’t be anywhere near a judgeship.
To me, here’s the (literal and figurative) money quote, from Nick Wasileski, President of the Delaware Coalition For Open Government:
“DelCOG does not have a problem with limited liability companies,” Wasileski said, noting that they promote business and protect owners’ assets. “But this thing has been hijacked by money launderers and drug traffickers as fronts to commit crime.”
If our elected officials can’t figure out a way to protect the golden goose w/o continuing to enable the world’s most dangerous criminals, then it’s time for some new elected officials.