Cooper asks permission for two-week junket to Philippines, including stays at ritzy hotels

Former Rep. Nathan Cooper, R-Cape Girardeau, who surrendered his passport as one of the conditions for being released on $10,000 bond, wants it back for a two-week business junket to the Philippines.
In documents filed today in U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Cooper, who is scheduled to be sentenced 9 a.m. Oct. 19 after pleading guilty to immigration fraud, says the trip has been planned since March through Business Improvement Solutions. LLC. According to documents on file with the Missouri Secretary of State's office, Business Improvement Solutions, LLC, was organized by April 27 by Cooper, who also serves as its registered agent.

Cooper's attorneys from the firm of Rosenblum, Schwartz, Rogers & Glass PC listed several reasons why the passport should be returned to their client, including:

-"Defendant has been obeying the conditions of his release pending sentencing."
-Cooper is "prepared to surrender his person and his passport to Pre-Trial Services upon his return to the United States."
-The motion was discussed with the pre-trial officer who "does not have an opinion as to whether or not this motion shall be granted."
-The motion was discussed with Assistant U. S. Attorney James E. Crowe Jr. who "also has no opinion as to whether or not this motion should be granted."

That last point drew a quick response from Crowe, who charitably referred to it as "an apparent miscommunication between counsel," in a motion of opposition, also filed today.

Crowe's motion says, "The United States opposes the pending motion of the defendant, Nathan Cooper, to allow his travel out of the country. Due to an apparent miscommunication between counsel, it was represented in the defendant's motion that the undersigned counsel had no opinion as to the motion. This is incorrect. The United States opposes the granting of the motion."

According to the trip itinerary, which was filed with the motion, if the court approves the motion, Cooper would leave from St. Louis 10:15 a.m. Sept. 13, taking Flight 1448/153 (American Airlines) and then Flight 74 (Japan Airlines) to Manila, where he would spend two days.
The schedule then finds Cooper taking a flight to Davao City, Philippines, where he would stay for a week at the ritzy Casa Leticia Hotel (pictured), which offers the following description in its advertising:

Casa Leticia has 41 exquisitely designed guestrooms including seven suites for the business person on the go. Located in downtown Davao City just 15 to 20 minutes from the NCCC Exhibition Centre, the hotel has wireless Internet access and DSL connection at its business centre. Rooms have IDD phone lines. Casa Leticia introduces guests to Ilonggo cuisine at its Sagay restaurant and houses Toto’s Bar and Fun Dining on its sixth floor. Nearby food and beverage options include the local favorites, Tsuru Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar, and Hanoi that specialises in authentic Vietnamese cuisine.

After that, he would return to Manila and spend three days at the Oxford Suites hotel before returning to St. Louis Sept. 27. The following description of Oxford Suites is given in the hotel's advertising:

The rooms of Oxford Suites Hotel in Manila are spacious and elegantly furnished. Guests have a choice of 232 beautifully decorated and spacious rooms. Every one of them has exquisite interior designs and is graced with attractive décor. Large and beautiful bathrooms are there in each of the rooms. The bathrooms feature several upscale amenities.

The Oxford Suites Hotel in Manila offers television, telephone, mini bar and many others in the rooms. The rooms don bright shades of wall paints. Room facilities at Oxford Suites Hotel in Manila feature a wide range of essential amenities that would make your living experience a delight.

The hotel spells delight for the business guests. The conference room is big and spacious and can accommodate meetings and conferences of considerable size. The hotel houses a great restaurant and a café inside its premises. Several mouth watering cuisines feature on the menu list. Other Hotel Amenities and Services at Oxford Suites Hotel in Manila include impressive room service, banquet facilities and photo copying facilities.

So, come to Oxford Suites Hotel in Manila and you would be treated to a fine time indeed. This is worthy of being one of the top hotels in Philippines.