Sir Allen Stanford Cries During Interview, Threatens to Punch ABC’s Charlie Gibson

In a not to miss 6:30 Monday night interview with ABC’s Charlie Gibson, accused Texas Financier Allen Stanford denies Ponzi scheme and drug cartel connection.

Stanford, whom ABC said cried during the interview, categorically rejected the notion of running a Ponzi scheme and said the government action to seize his assets had left him with little money and few changes of clothing. He was forced to fly on a commercial plane (imagine that) for the first time in almost two decades after the government seized his fleet of six private jets.

“They make you take your shoes off and everything, it’s terrible,” he complained about the airport security that apparently came as a surprise to him.

Stanford also threatened to punch Charlie Gibson in the mouth. (talk about class)

He strongly denied an ABC News report, citing senior law enforcement officials, that he was under investigation in connection with the alleged laundering of money for a Mexican drug cartel.

“If you say it to my face again, I will punch you in the mouth,” he said to Gibson.

Then backing off, Stanford said, “No, I’m not going to punch you in the mouth. But I’m just saying that’s an absolutely, absolutely ludicrous thing to say. Anybody who knows me knows that’s the case.”

“Any bank, any organization, financial organization the size we are, you cannot be sure, a hundred per cent sure that every customer you have is clean,” Stanford said.

Stanford also said he expects to be indicted by a federal grand jury in the next two weeks. [via ABC News]

On Feb. 17, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused Stanford and three of his companies for orchestrating a fraudulent, multi-billion dollar investment scheme centering on an $8 billion CD program.

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