MOORE WRITES OPEN LETTER TO U.S. TREASURY

Last updated: Monday, May 14, 2007

MOORE WRITES OPEN LETTER TO U.S. TREASURY

LATEST: Filmmaker MICHAEL MOORE has called on the U.S. Treasury to abandon its investigation into allegations he broke a trade embargo with Cuba by travelling to the Caribbean island with a group of September 11th rescue workers.

MICHAEL MOORE

The stunt was part of the Oscar winner's latest documentary Sicko, a critique of the health-care industry in America. He supposedly travelled with the 10 rescue workers, made ill from their efforts after the terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Center, in a bid to seek treatment for them.

Last week (ends11May07), Moore received a letter from The Treasury Department's Office Of Foreign Assets Control, notifying him that it was conducting a civil investigation for possible violations of the trade embargo restricting travel to Cuba.

Moore has now written a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, in which he accuses U.S. President George W. Bush's administration of investigating him for political reasons.

Moore, who has posted his letter online, writes: "For five and a half years, the Bush administration has ignored and neglected the heroes of the 9/11 community. These heroic first responders have been left to fend for themselves, without coverage and without care.

"I understand why the Bush administration is coming after me - I have tried to help the very people they refuse to help, but until George W. Bush outlaws helping your fellow man, I have broken no laws and I have nothing to hide."

And Moore believes that because he criticises the U.S. health-care industry in Sicko, his film is a target.

He adds, "I can understand why that industry's main recipient of its contributions - President Bush - would want to harass, intimidate and potentially prevent this film from having its widest possible audience."

As previously reported, Moore has reportedly arranged for the film to be held in a "safe house" outside the U.S. to protect it from government interference - ahead of its planned premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next Saturday (19May07).

Source: WENN

| Monday, May 14, 2007

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version

MOORE WRITES OPEN LETTER TO U.S. TREASURY

Related News: