British culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, has been cleared of breaching ministerial code after reports surfaced her husband received an improper cash "gift" which he invested in a hedge fund, The Guardian of London reported. A final report was issued today by the cabinet secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell, absolving Ms. Jowell of complicity in the affair because she wasn't told of the money by her husband.
The amount in question, £350,000, was allegedly given as a gift to Ms. Jowell's husband, David Mills, in September of 2000 by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. It has been suggested, according to The Guardian, that the money was given as a payoff to Mr. Mills in exchange for helpful testimony in Berlusconi's long running corruption trial. Mr. Mills, a corporate lawyer and tax specialist, has lately been defending himself against several accompanied accusations, including recent revelations that he received payments from several companies related to Mr. Berlusconi. It is believed that this evidence, compiled with the recent about-face of Mr. Mills' alibi for the £350,000 gift, will, even after Sir Gus' dismissal of charges, continue to make life complicated for Mr. Mills and his ministerial wife, Ms. Jowell.
To add insult to injury, it has also recently become evident, according to The Guardian, that the hedge fund in which Mr. Mills redirected the generous gift - a fund called Centurion - has performed no better than a basic savings account. Sometimes you get the bear. Sometimes...
The amount in question, £350,000, was allegedly given as a gift to Ms. Jowell's husband, David Mills, in September of 2000 by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. It has been suggested, according to The Guardian, that the money was given as a payoff to Mr. Mills in exchange for helpful testimony in Berlusconi's long running corruption trial. Mr. Mills, a corporate lawyer and tax specialist, has lately been defending himself against several accompanied accusations, including recent revelations that he received payments from several companies related to Mr. Berlusconi. It is believed that this evidence, compiled with the recent about-face of Mr. Mills' alibi for the £350,000 gift, will, even after Sir Gus' dismissal of charges, continue to make life complicated for Mr. Mills and his ministerial wife, Ms. Jowell.
To add insult to injury, it has also recently become evident, according to The Guardian, that the hedge fund in which Mr. Mills redirected the generous gift - a fund called Centurion - has performed no better than a basic savings account. Sometimes you get the bear. Sometimes...
