“Gibson has complied with foreign laws and believes it is innocent of ANY wrong doing. We will fight aggressively to prove our innocence.”
Posted by Tina
Gibson is a world renowned guitar manufacturer. They’ve been making fine guitars for decades and their guitars have been favored by many famous musicians such as Eric Clapton, B.B. King, and of course, Les Paul. With such a fine history and reputation its curious that our government would treat this company like common criminals seemingly without cause. For almost two years now Gibson has been under investigation, including having their headquarters raided on two occasions, without charges being filed or even full disclosure made wrong doing. The following video is quite long, and the audio is interrupted by jets flying overhead for a short portion, but Mr. Juszkiewicz seems like a genuine, law abiding citizen to me. See what you think:
The investigation of Gibson Guitars is highly suspect. After nearly two years, $3 million in losses, and the constant threat of criminal charges being filed it’s about time the folks at Gibson were given an explanation.
Thanks, Toby, for the nudge! We’ll keep our eyes on this one.
You guys do a pretty good job of keeping on top of things. I was just using this a prime example of how Obama is killing America. Be on guard Mrs.Smith he will be coming after your apple pie next.
Our DOJ has so many important things to do like this fiasco that they can’t answer any questions about Fast & Furious, Gunrunner, etc.
I’m so glad Gibson is standing up to the Feds. It’s about time somebody stood up and said “NO!”
J. Soden, me too. Tina was on to this right from the first hint. I had no idea it was as bad as it was. I just couldn’t believe the scope of this thing and how anyone in high office could do something so stupid. And then they promoted these guys? Wow…what an obvious buy off to keep em quiet.
Toby: “Be on guard Mrs.Smith he will be coming after your apple pie next.”
ROTFLMAO…has anyone alerted the Keibler elves?
The DOJ’s record keeps getting more suspect…the gunnrunner fiasco, reports of selective prosecutions, and now this harrassment of a private manufacturer (motivated by greenie pressures?)…one more indication that thi administration needs to GO!
From gun running for Mexican drug cartels to the multi-million dollar harassment of Gibson.
Sounds to me like someone is running amok.
One might reasonably ask, “Who are the criminals?”
This story just reeks of environmental extremists trashing the OS economy. Obama packed all of the US environmental agencies with eco-whackos bend on destroying our economy in the name of protecting the environment. The housing market has been dead so we haven’t heard much complaining form developers not being able to use their land. You can be certain if they did try to get a permit from the ACOE or USFWS they couldn’t. It was the zealots at USFWS that went after Gibson.
“Reuters is reporting that the guitar maker is being charged with illegally importing wood under a U.S. law barring importation of endangered plants and woods.
In an affidavit, agent John Rayfield of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said U.S. Customs agents in June detained a shipment of sawn ebony logs from India.
The paperwork accompanying the shipment identified it fraudulently as Indian ebony fingerboards for guitars and it did not say it was going to Gibson, the affidavit said.
Of course there will be some back and forth apparently on the legitimacy of the case and whether or not Gibson actually broke any laws, but one thing from the press release stood out to me:
The wood the Government seized on August 24 is from a Forest Stewardship Council certified supplier and is FSC Controlled, meaning that the wood complies with the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council, which is an industry-recognized and independent, not-for-profit organization established to promote responsible management of the worlds forests. FSC Controlled Wood standards require, among other things, that the wood not be illegally harvested and not be harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights. See http://www.fsc.org for more information. Gibson has a long history of supporting sustainable and responsible sources of wood and has worked diligently with entities such as the Rainforest Alliance and Greenpeace to secure FSC certified supplies. The wood seized on August 24 satisfied FSC standards.”
Toby listens to NPR?
First, should Gibson be proved to have been naughty, the fine will hardly bankrupt the firm.
Second, NPR, editorially, suggested that Gibson, being in the best position to weather such an assault, was being made an example of: companies that make a market for endangered species … will be reamed.
I approve.
Q, “almost” doesn’t feed the bulldog, this is not the time for half measures! I know you can do it, take bigger bites and getter done!
Libby if you bothered to listen, or do any reading, you would have found that this company has bent over backwards to comply with environmental standards AND cooperate fully with the organizations making environmental demands. THEY WANTED TO BE COMPLIANT.,.THEY LOVE THE EARETH TOO (the ba*ta*ds).
You guys are something else. Bush was a Nazi for wire tapping only calls made to suspected foreign terrorists…Obama expands the program…not a peep…and then has his attack dogs go after a compliant manufacturer of an MADE IN AMERICA PRODUCT…and you ho hum? Hypocrits!
Meanwhile the shredding machine is working 24/7 at Solyndra…
…where did all the money go, long time passing, where did all the money go, long time ago…where did all the money go…big dem pockets doncha know…when will we ever learn…
According to a Washington Examiner article Republican representatives have stepped up to defend Gibson in a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Director Daniel Ashe:
http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/house-republicans-support-gibson-guitar