Carlyle Group – Deny Everything

We’re not,” he nearly shouts, “that well connected!”

Behind him is a picture of Rubenstein on a plane with then-Gov. George W. Bush. Across the room, a photo of Rubenstein with the president’s father and mother. Next to that, Rubenstein and Mikhail Gorbachev. Elsewhere: Rubenstein and Jimmy Carter. On a bookshelf: Rubenstein and the pope.
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“We’ve actually replaced the Trilateral Commission” as the darling of conspiracy theorists, says Rubenstein — who, truth be told, happens to be a member of the Trilateral Commission.

It didn’t help that as the World Trade Center burned on Sept. 11, 2001, the news interrupted a Carlyle business conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel here attended by a brother of Osama bin Laden. Former president Bush, a fellow investor, had been with him at the conference the previous day.”