In court, Scot who ‘lied she was a friend of Hillary in £120k scam’

A SCOT who allegedly tried to scam £120,000 from a film company by claiming she could provide behind the scenes access to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign appeared in court yesterday.

Ann Leuser, 56, is accused of signing a contract with TV and film producer Alison Birley saying she could offer access to the Democratic candidate’s doomed election campaign.

She is said to have used an actor impersonating a member of Mrs Clinton’s campaign team in a ‘sophisticated’ fraud.

Leuser, from Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, allegedly persuaded Miss Birley to agree to pay £120,000 in four instalments of £30,000.

The contract said she personally knew Mrs Clinton and other members of her campaign team and could offer the filmmakers ‘access all areas’, it was said.

Leuser also blagged a £3,400 trip to New York as part of the scam, between April 1 last year and January 31 this year, it is claimed.

Leuser appeared at City of London Magistrates Court yesterday, facing two charges of fraud by false representation, to which she made no plea.

Taiwo Akinrowo, prosecuting, said: ‘This is a serious fraud case. Factors present are the involvement of others, which includes using an actor to impersonate over the phone a member of Hillary Clinton’s campaign team.

‘It is a sophisticated fraud over a sustained period of time. The amount that had been negotiated was £120,000.’

Leuser had infections in her hand and leg which previously prevented her from travelling from Scotland to appear in court.

She was granted unconditional bail ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on March 9. Mrs Clinton lost the US presidential election to Donald Trump on November 8 last year.