Jordan’s king denies impropriety in luxury home purchases

By JOSEF FEDERMAN and KARIN LAUB
Associated Press

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan’s King Abdullah II has denied any impropriety in his purchase of luxury homes abroad. He is trying to contain a budding scandal over reports of lavish spending at a time when he has sought international aid to pull his impoverished country out of recession. The revelations Sunday of property purchases reportedly worth more than $100 million come at a delicate time for Abdullah and could unsettle Jordan’s critical relationship with the international community. The country is seen as a stable, pro-Western bulwark in a volatile region. The purchases were reported by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Abdullah said he kept quiet about the transactions because of security concerns. He also said no public funds were used.