Confesses to Receiving “Campaign Contributions” from Lev Dermen

The embattled John Saldivar has just released a three page release on those text messages that have left him exposed.  He has not taken questions from the media since Sunday and is now attempting at damage control.   With mounting calls for an investigation and with the U.S. watching, Saldivar now says that the messages presented in the Utah court do not appear to accurately reflect his recollection of any conversation with Jacob Kingston.  He then goes on to say that Kingston’s credibility as a witness is highly questionable and expert scrutiny of the text messages reveal serious discrepancies that create high suspicion of being deliberately manufactured.   Saldivar maintains that he was not bribed by Lev Dermen and was never a part of any discussion to move any money from the United States to Belize. He states he never involved himself in any act of corruption or wrongdoing. But admits that he did receive campaign contributions from Dermen but those were not tied to any favour or quid pro quo, hence it was not illegal or improper.  Saldivar says he did not speak out before because he was in the middle of a heated battle for the leadership and had he so done, he would have been removed from cabinet and Faber would have been the new leader. He goes on to apologize and repeats his innocence.  He also offers a lengthy explanation about meeting with potential donors because he says he has to help his constituents.  According to Saldivar, if politicians are going to be held criminally liable when they accept financial contributions from persons who later turn out to be criminals, then all politicians are in jeopardy including some from his party. The full text of his statement can be seen on our Facebook at Facebook dot com slash News Five live.