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Alleged Bribery Scheme in Chevron’s Ecuador Pollution Case

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    Chevron attorney Randy Mastro on a judge’s claim that he received a $500K bribe.

  • Duration 4:59
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So this is our top story tonight shocking new allegations of bribery and a huge eighteen billion dollar lawsuit against Chevron.

An Ecuadorian court ordered the oil giant to pay the massive settlement for damage done in the native land as a result.

Of oil drilling by Texaco that was later bought by Chevron.

Now to judge in the case says he was paid half a million dollars to issued the judgment against Chevron.

He claims to have evidence to prove it here gonna Fox Business exclusive Israeli master -- Chevron lead attorney in the -- -- the New York City under Giuliani.

So this is very confusing let's -- lay out the details for people.

Basically the judge who issued the ruling saying that Chevron -- eighteen billion dollars has now admitted.

That he was paid half a million dollars in order to write that settlement to have separate rate close -- -- -- get straight out.

Actually it is and former judge who has come full right to say that he was ghost writing.

For the judge on -- case he brokered.

The deal.

And then he knows firsthand that giant just lawyers in the case.

Wrote the eighteen billion dollar judgment in their own favor in exchange for what they agreed to pay the judge on the case.

Now there is some doubt about this story I guess to -- make -- I just because the judge has now cooperating who says that he knows all of these details was also paid.

In order to provide this evidence -- -- not that much but he had to he -- -- indeed curious to relocate his famous and he's getting money as well.

Well this is no different than government witness protection is for the reasonable security and safety.

Confirmed by objective independent third parties.

That this individual he would stay in Ecuador -- His safety and security -- liberty would be in jeopardy so.

That is really something done to protect the security of the witness but.

Most importantly here we didn't pick this witness that pay the plaintiffs' lawyers picked this witness they chose to conspire with him in this.

-- deal what's isn't -- for coming forward now I mean if he was part of the original -- it seems like by virtue of coming forward.

He's put his life in jeopardy he may face some sort of criminal charges I would think right why's he coming forward to say that.

That he was part of the deal to you know make Chevron pay eighteen billion dollars.

Like any turncoat in -- racketeering case he saw the truth coming out.

He saw that it was going to come out and was going to implicate him and he.

Therefore got a head of that.

Providing the evidence of what went on here and now this shocking testimony.

-- my reaction to this morning when I hear you know that a judge was paid half a million dollars in order to just say that Chevron has to go on page eighteen billion dollars is that.

This is kind of what you expect from a court system and -- it's not it's shocking because the number is so huge but from America a lot of -- perception is that.

You know these courts can be -- you hear about bribery it sounds like the cost of doing business to me.

Well I think.

Shouldn't be the cost of doing business anyway this is an important story for American corporations.

-- who can be.

Literally held hostage -- shaken down by plaintiffs' lawyers going to corrupt foreign jurisdictions where they can corruptly influence the judiciary.

And then using those.

Fraudulently procured judgments to shake down American corporations.

That is something that we should be taking very seriously our government.

Our prosecutors here in the United States our courts here in the United States are taking a very serious.

Fight back I mean they're the ones with the courts in the jurisdiction to -- it sounds like.

Maybe I just can't do business in Ecuador.

Well.

Actually.

There are treaties that are designed to protect American businesses.

Abroad when they do business in foreign countries like Ecuador.

But Ecuador is ignoring its treaty obligations Ecuador's government is in league with these plaintiffs lawyers.

Putting the thumb on the scale turning a blind -- to the corruption.

The fact of the matter is what we have here is a screaming scandal something so shocking I've never seen it in thirty plus years of law practiced it's a judgment they cannot stand.

And I give Chevron tremendous credit.

For saying we are not going to be shaking so I don't I -- this fraud.

So how do you fight back -- -- -- -- the well Leon that -- sit out or you think of the US house to take action.

Well we -- out.

We are pursuing every legal recourse we have he Rico case of our -- in the southern district of New York that we'll go to trial.

In the fall and that is the place where we were putting this evidence on the public record.

To show what.

Happened here and to say American companies should never have to endure this again.

Yeah and eighteen billion dollars is a huge number and to think about verdict could be bought for half a million dollars has incredible.

I'm really thank you so much for coming on the show really -- important to grabs RE.