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Associated Press - September 23, 2009 10:35 AM ET
NEW YORK (AP) - The lawyer for a wealthy fundraiser for Hillary Rodham Clinton and other top Democrats says his client's political contributions were legal - despite charges he defrauded banks of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Attorney Paul Schechtman made the comment to reporters Wednesday after Hassan Nemazee (hah-SAHN' nah-MAH'-zee) pleaded not guilty to an indictment accusing him of carrying out a $292 million Ponzi scheme.
Prosecutors say Nemazee cheated three banks out of the money to live an affluent life and pose as an influential fundraiser.
The 59-year-old Manhattan resident was the national finance chairman for Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. He is under house arrest on $25 million bail.
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