The records included a bank statement and a set of canceled checks for Components Ltd. that were made available to The New York Times for review by someone associated with Mr. Hsu. Because they covered only a single month in 2003, it could not be determined if the pattern of payments to the nine people was a singular occurrence, or continued closer in proximity to the hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions that Mr. Hsu eventually bundled.
The Wall St. Journal has three reporters, one in California, Washington and Hong Kong, rummaging though court documents so old they are in storage, (and six reporters in all on the byline to the article. )
Mr. Hsu's past, illuminated by documents fished out of storage at various courts and interviews with former partners and friends, is full of failed businesses, a kidnapping, lawsuits and bouts of financial ruin followed by hard-to-explain recovery.
The article carries this statement released Friday by Hsu's lawyer, James Brosnahan:
"In the last 36 hours a great many friends of Norman Hsu have expressed concern about his mental health and physical well-being. We are very pleased and relieved that he is now being cared for at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. The strain he has been under during the last week has been enormous and, perhaps, unbearable. We will be getting him the best medical care available. The legal matter pending in San Mateo Superior Court will be handled in its proper course."
Why all the fuss? Mr. Hsu is a U.S. citizen. He's a graduate of Berkeley and the Wharton School of Business. He went bankrupt in the U.S. and got charged with a crime as a result. He didn't show up for his sentencing and has said he thought the case had been resolved.
He didn't rape or kill anyone. He's not a terrorist or an agent of a foreign power. He contributed money to Democratic candidates, none of whom had an inkling there was anything off-kilter. They've all said they will donate the money to charity. It appears Hsu isn't even registered to vote.
The man tried to contribute to our political process and ends up a national pariah. Can we have some perspective, please?
The Justice Department will investigate. Even if his contributions violated campaign finance laws, it's not a death penalty offense. Nor should we drive him to suicide.
Everyone else should get off his case already.
