Hillary is getting bad news for breakfast:
Norman Hsu’s quickly jumpstarted life on the lam came to a screeching stop less than 48 hours after it began when he got sick on the California Zephyr and was nabbed after being rushed to a Colorado hospital, according to the FBI.
The prolific Democratic fundraiser and fugitive was busted at 7 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time by FBI agents from the Denver office, according to Special Agent Joseph M. Schadler in the FBI’s San Francisco office.
He was still in St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction - 250 miles west of Denver - Thursday evening, according to Pete Smarr, a nursing supervisor. Smarr declined to say what Hsu was suffering from - other than to report him in custody and in “fair” condition.
Hsu was traveling on Train #6, according to Cliff Cole, an Amtrak spokesman. Hsu boarded the train in Emeryville and was scheduled to get off the train in Denver, Cole said. Cole had no information as to who - if anyone - Hsu may have been traveling with.
Hsu was arrested on federal charges of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, according to a statement released Thursday night by the FBI.
I’m not a conspiracy theorist but you have to wonder about this guy’s sudden illness given the number of powerful people who’d like to see him vanish. Then again he was probably eating Amtrak food. I guess we’re lucky to have him alive.
Why would he try to escape via the California Zephyr anyway? Apparently his final stop was in Colorado:
Cliff Cole, a spokesman for Amtrak in New York, said Hsu was on the California Zephyr and boarded the train in Emeryville, Calif. He said Hsu’s ticket indicated his destination was Denver.
I’m guessing Denver International Airport was his intended destination but who knows.
Update II:
The State Department assisted:
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the US State Department Diplomatic Security Service assisted in the investigation.
From the Bureau of Diplomatic Security website:
Operating from a global platform in 25 U.S. cities and 159 foreign countries, DS ensures that America can conduct diplomacy safely and securely. DS plays a vital role in protecting U.S. embassies and personnel overseas, securing critical information systems, investigating passport and visa fraud, and fighting the war on terror.
Update:
Michelle Malkin is up late:
Allah had the same reaction I did to reports saying that the federal charges of unlawful flight will be dropped when he lands back in California: Huh?
I’m not sure if that’s standard procedure but it sure sounds odd.
Trackback this Post:Right Click for URL
September 7th, 2007 at 11:19 am
FYI - Amtrak food is actually very good. I travel long distance trains frequently, and enjoy the meals they serve. Please be sure to post this in your blog, if you can.
It is important that Amtrak not be unfairly blamed for this, as the trains have enough trouble getting funding as it is, and they are very important for travellers in this age of high gas prices and long airport waits.
I wonder if he was travelling coach or First Class? The food is the same, but the opportunity to “poison” him without detection is much greater in coach, unless there were several conspirators involved.
Love your blog!