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Bush campaign worker charged in 'debategate' case

From CNN producer Terry Frieden at the Justice Department

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A federal grand jury Tuesday indicted Juanita Yvette Lozano, an employee of the media consultant to the George W. Bush presidential campaign, in connection with her mailing of campaign documents and a videotape of debate preparations to the Al Gore campaign.

The three-count indictment returned by a grand jury in Austin, Texas, charges Lozano with mail fraud, false statement to the FBI, and perjury before the grand jury.

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The Justice Department, which made the announcement, said if convicted Lozano could face up to 15 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.

Lazano, 30, worked for Maverick Media, which had been hired by the Bush campaign.

"The indictment charges that Lozano secretly gathered and copied more than 120 pages of debate preparation documents and a 60-minute video tape of a private debate preparation session involving Bush and his key advisors," the Justice Department statement said.

The indicted alleges Lozano sent the materials to Tom Downey, a former Democratic Congressman who was assisting the Gore campaign. The indictment says Lozano used the name Amy Smith and provided a false return address. The indictment says Lozano enclosed a note which said, "I will call you soon to find out what other materials can be useful to the V.P. "

Downey has said as soon as he received the package on September 13th he reported the matter to the FBI, which then launched an investigation.

Count One against Lozano charges her with mail fraud for defrauding the Bush Campaign of its work product and of defrauding her employer of honest services.

Count Two charges Lozano with lying to FBI agents who interviewed her the week after the package was sent, and misleading the agents about her reasons for visiting the post office and mailing a package.

Count Three charges Lozano with testifying falsely that she knew nothing about Downey or his location prior to the package being sent.

Source: FBI focuses on Bush consultant in debate tape probe
October 1, 2000

United States Department of Justice
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