US Senate subcommittee refers UK MP Galloway to DOJ for possible prosecution News
US Senate subcommittee refers UK MP Galloway to DOJ for possible prosecution

[JURIST] A US Senate subcommittee referred British MP George Galloway [BBC profile] Thursday evening to the US Department of Justice [official website] for potential prosecution because the committee said they found "probable cause" that Galloway lied to Congress regarding his role in the UN oil-for-food [official website; JURIST news archive] scandal. The Senate panel uncovered a payment of $150,000 in Iraqi oil sales [PSI report, PDF] to Galloway's soon to be ex-wife and a separate investigation by the UN's Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC) [official website] alleges that the British MP also received an allocation for 18 million barrels of oil [JURIST report] from Saddam Hussein in exchange for assistance in getting UN sanctions lifted against the former regime. The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations [official website] said the evidence collected called "into question the veracity of sworn testimony" given by Galloway at his questioning by senators earlier this year [JURIST report] when he denied any involvement in Iraqi oil sales. Congressional aides said he could be charged with perjury, making false statements, and/or obstructing a congressional proceeding. A spokesman for Galloway said Thursday that he "welcomes this" and that he "has demanded it and is glad to know something is happening." From the UK, the Times has more.