Trireme Partners

Trireme Partners LLP was a limited partnership venture capital company that invested in technology, goods, and services related to Homeland Security. The name "Trireme" was taken from a Greek warship designed with three banks of rowers.

Company principals included Richard Perle and Gerald Hillman. Trireme Partners was a Delaware entity registered in November 2001, two months after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. One of the firm's major investors was Boeing, who invested $20 million.

In March 2003, Perle became embroiled in controversy after The New Yorker published an article by Seymour Hersh. The article described a meeting between Perle, the arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, and Saudi businessman Harb Zuhair, in which Perle allegedly offered to influence American foreign policy in Saudi Arabia in exchange for investment in Trireme. The U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General investigated the conflict of interest and determined that Perle did not violate the conflict of interest provision because he was only working eight days per annum at the Defense Department at the time, which was less than the 60 days of service requirement.[1][2]

Trireme Partners completed its business and dissolved in 2005.

Notes

  1. ↑ Jackson, David (25 June 2004). "Hersh uncovered Pentagon adviser Richard Perles role in securing homeland security contracts". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 10 March 2009. the Defense Department inspector general cleared Perle of violating criminal laws or ethics regulations, saying the federal conflict-of-interest provisions don't apply unless an individual has worked 60 days a year.
  2. ↑ Labaton, Stephen (15 November 2003). "Report Finds No Violations At Pentagon By Adviser". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2009. The inspector general's conclusions were in a heavily excised report dated Nov. 10 that was released on Friday by Representative John Conyers of Michigan

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