Annan Retains Noted Criminal Attorney
By: John Russell | Source: NEWS MAX
April 6, 2005 1:31PM EST

NewsMax has learned that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has privately retained the services of celebrated Washington criminal defense attorney Greg Craig. The Annan move was first disclosed in a filing with the Paul Volcker panel released last month. The fomer Fed chairman currently heads an "independent" investigation into the activities of the scandal plagued U.N.-Iraq Oil-for-Food Program. Craig is perhaps best known for his defense of Bill Clinton during his Senate impeachment trial in 1999. He is also remembered as an attorney and "political" adviser to Juan Miguel Gonzalez, the father of "celebrated" Cuban shipwreck survivor, Elian. It is not known how long Annan has retained Craig's services, but it is believed he came on board shortly after Volcker launched his inquiry into the controversial Iraqi aid program in early 2004. In a second "interim" report issued on March 29, Volcker cleared Annan of any "provable" criminal activity, but strongly criticized his management of the United Nations and the initial Oil-for-Food Program investigation. Volcker also refused to "permanently" close the door on any additional investigations of Annan, pointing out that his "final" report is not due to be concluded before June. Annan's son Kojo, a former employee of a U.N. contractor, Cotecna Inspections, may yet face criminal charges. More than $6 billion is suspected of being directly embezzled from the U.N. program, according to Volcker. Another $15 billion may have been made by illegal oil smuggling between Saddam and his Iranian, Syrian and Turkish neighbors, say U.N. investigators. Kofi Annan has steadfastly denied any involvement or knowledge of any criminal activity and has vowed repeatedly to uncover any illegalities and take action against guilty parties. So far, that has resulted in more than 75 percent of Annan's senior staff resigning, retiring or being fired. When recently asked by a reporter if he would resign, Annan snapped, "Hell, no!" Last week, Volcker confirmed that Annan's recently retired chief of staff, Iqbal Riza, had personally approved the destruction of more than three years of documents that could have influenced the Oil-for-Food investigation. The surprise revelation prompted U.N. reporters to liken Riza to Rose Mary Woods, the Nixon secretary who erased the "infamous" 18 minutes of audiotape on the Watergate cover-up. Meanwhile, the parade of senior Annan staffers continues its march to the exits. The U.N.'s chief of internal affairs investigations, Dilip Nair, who is contesting allegations of sexual harassment, is expected to "vacate" his position by month's end, according to Annan's chief of staff Mark Malloch Brown. "It's inevitable," Malloch Brown confessed. "Annan says he has no responsibility. Everybody is responsible but him. He is no longer believable to us," said an angry longtime U.N. staffer.

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