Dope Dealer for Fred Thompson

WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican Fred Thompson said Sunday he was unaware of the criminal past of an adviser to his presidential campaign, but that he wouldn't "throw my friend under the bus" for decades-old indiscretions.

Thompson has flown around the country in a private jet borrowed from businessman Philip Martin, a co-chairman of Thompson's campaign who also has a criminal record for drug dealing, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

Martin pleaded guilty to the sale of 11 pounds of marijuana in 1979, but the court withheld judgment pending completion of his probation. In 1983, he was charged with violating probation and multiple counts of bookmaking, cocaine trafficking and conspiracy. He pleaded no contest to the cocaine-trafficking and conspiracy charges, and was continued on probation, the newspaper said.

Thompson said he learned about Martin's past on Saturday, and understood that the crimes were committed when he was in his 20s and living in Florida, before Martin moved to Tennessee and the two became friends.(LINK)

Eleven pounds of pot in 1979 and cocaine trafficking in 1983. This guy receives probation? In Wise county that would be a "kingpin" charge. Of course Fred relied on his most common answer - Thompson said he learned about Martin's past on Saturday. Fred did not know or Fred does not recall......

Martin is chairman of a four-member campaign finance team known as First-Day Founders, which established Thompson's fundraising strategy in June, said campaign spokeswoman Karen Hanretty. His job is to recruit people to raise money, she said.
Also in the group is Spencer Abraham, a former Energy secretary and former Republican senator from Michigan.(LINK)

The company you keep....

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