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Disgraced Democratic Donor Norman Hsu Arrested in Colorado, Remains in Hospital

Friday, September 07, 2007

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. —  Disgraced Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu remained in custody Friday at a Colorado hospital after his arrest days after he failed to show up for a court appearance related to a felony theft conviction.

FBI agents took Hsu into custody late Thursday at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colo., said FBI spokesman Joseph Schadler.

Hsu was listed in fair condition, hospital vice president Dan Prinster said in a telephone interview. He declined to provide details of Hsu's ailment, other than to say that Hsu "was delirious (when he arrived) and had identification."

FBI agents arrived at the hospital about 9 p.m. EDT Thursday, Prinster said, adding he didn't know how authorities learned of Hsu's whereabouts. "All I know is I got a call," he said.

Hsu was traveling on an Amtrak train Thursday when he became ill. An ambulance was called when the train stopped in Grand Junction and he was taken to St. Mary's.

Mesa County Sheriff's Officer Heather Benjamin said that under normal procedure, Hsu would be booked into the local jail when he is released from the hospital.

Hsu had been scheduled to appear in court Wednesday to turn over his passport and ask a judge to cut in half the $2 million bail he posted last week when he turned himself in after spending 15 years on the lam from a felony theft conviction.

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Instead, Hsu failed to show up at the bail reduction hearing and a judge issued a new arrest warrant for him.

California Attorney General spokesman Gareth Lacy said Hsu's lawyers told prosecutors Hsu arrived by charter jet at the Oakland, Calif., airport about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday local time and then wasn't heard from again.

When it became apparent that Hsu had fled the state, California authorities sought the assistance of the FBI, whose agents arrested him Thursday night on charges of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, Schadler said.

Once he is returned to state custody, the federal charges will be dismissed, Schadler said.

A string of Democratic politicians have announced plans in the past week to return or donate to charity Hsu's election contributions. The latest was Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who said Thursday he plans to donate to charity nearly $40,000 in contributions.

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has said she plans to give to charity the $23,000 in donations she received from Hsu for her presidential and senatorial campaigns and to her political action committee, HillPac.

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