Pro-Tiger Congressman, Sherman, (D) accused of bribery

by Hassina Leelaratne

( October 25, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) - Just two months after being publicly confronted by Sri Lankan expatriates about his ties to a front organization of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA 27th District) faced another humiliating moment.

This time the blitzkrieg came from his Republican opponent in the current congressional race, Navraj Singh, who turned the tables on Sherman when he told a shocked audience on Thursday that he had once paid $5000 to get an appointment with the congressman.

Speaking at a candidates’ forum organized by the League of Women Voters at the Burbank City Hall, Singh emphasized that the most important issue in the race was integrity. He accused Congressman Sherman of being ‘corrupt’ and called on voters to ‘bring him home.’

Singh, a first-generation immigrant, told the hushed audience that after his son died in a car crash in 2006 he had attempted to get in touch with Congressman Sherman to get his assistance in having his widowed daughter-in-law’s visa extended. After numerous failed attempts to get an appointment with the congressman, Singh said he was approached by a third party, Nadadur Vardhan, who was able to arrange a meeting, but only after he had paid $5000.

Congressman Sherman floated a phony bill and nothing more was done, according to Singh. “I hope he’s not doing this now,” he added.

In response, Sherman denied the allegations saying he had never set eyes on Singh until he got into the current congressional race and that if he has no recollection of floating such a bill. After the debate, in a heated argument with Singh, and surrounded by reporters and campaign staff, Sherman said he did remember a meeting with Singh and his daughter-in-law.

Sherman also conceded during the post-debate exchange that Nadadur Vardhan was a ‘dear friend’ who had contributed to his campaign since 1996. He suggested that Singh was upset because a person from his community had been contributing to his (Sherman’s) campaign.
But Singh held his ground, replying: "You should be compelled to be expelled from the Congress."

To which Sherman replied: "Because I tried to help your daughter?"

"No, because you took money," Singh answered. "You received bribes."

Singh pointed out that Vardhan had made a donation of $1000 to Sherman’s campaign just two days after obtaining the $5000 from him.

According to Singh, there are several others in the Indian community who have made similar payments to Vardhan for access to Congressman Sherman. He urged them to come forward and share their experiences with the public.

“We must rid Congress of this kind of corruption,” said Singh.

Singh’s campaign manager, Tim Davis, said that despite several requests Sherman had been dodging a debate with Singh and that Thursday’s forum was the only one where the two candidates would have a face-to-face encounter.

Reports in community newspapers show Sherman and Vardhan having a close relationship with the congressman attending several events at Vardhan’s house. In July 2007, Sherman was among those present at Vardhan’s home who attended the signing of a deal by Vardhan’s entertainment company for a $2.5 billion Bollywood theme park in Mumbai, India. Sherman also teamed up recently with Vardhan to host a fundraiser for Ashwin Madia who is running on the Democratic ticket for a congressional seat in Minnesota.

Sherman’s ties with the LTTE have been publicized in the Sri Lankan media from time to time. In August, nearly 200 Sri Lankan expatriates joined a protest outside in Reseda, California, where Sherman was holding a townhall meeting for constituents. The protest highlighted the fact that Sherman had accepted donations from the local (Reseda) office of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) the LTTE’s fundraising arm whose funds were frozen by the US Treasury last year. Sherman was the chief guest at the launching of this TRO office in 1999. An incriminating 2005 press release by Sherman which lists the TRO’s Reseda office as one of the organizations accepting tsunami donations has disappeared from the congressman’s website after the August protest.

Gamini Edirisinghe, Co-Secretary of the Sri Lankan Patriots’ group, who was present at last night’s debate said he was not surprised by Singh’s allegations. “We know for sure that Sherman took funds from the TRO and that in return he issued or co-sponsored resolutions that favored the Tigers. So we cannot discount the bribery allegation.” Edirisinghe added that he hoped there would be a proper investigation into all the allegations against the congressman.

In addition to the three candidates of the 27th District, Sherman, Singh, and Libertarian Tim Denton,Thursday’s forum featured contenders of the 29th District – incumbent Rep. Adam Schiff (Dem), Republican Charles Hahn and Libertarian Alan Pyaett.

- Sri Lanka Guardian