U.S. Initiates Corruption Probe of former President Aristide.

U.S. Treasury Department investigators are in Haiti scouring bank and other records for evidence of corruption by ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his government, a top department official said Thursday. The investigation, conducted in coordination with Haiti's interim government and also the U.S. departments of State and Justice, was launched three months ago and also includes a review of bank accounts outside the Caribbean nation. Aristide's Miami attorney, said, 'This is further evidence of the the Bush administration's involvement in the coup against Aristide. Why else would they be spending taxpayers' money to send investigators to Haiti to uncover what they claim is pilfering . . . when they refused to take any action for three years to help the Haitian people or the Haitian government?'' Aristide has accused the United States of forcing his departure and unfairly halting aid during his tenure. The Bush administration has denied the allegations. [more]