Stanford cries in interview

The flamboyant financier under investigation by all kinds of agencies also threatened to punch ABC's Brian Ross in the mouth! Oh, and he denied that he had engaged in a Ponzi scheme, though he expected to be indicted. As for the threatened punch in the mouth, Stanford responded to an ABC News report that he was under investigation in connection with the alleged laundering of money for a Mexican drug cartel. "If you say it to my face again, I will punch you in the mouth," he said. From ABC News:

Stanford was near tears throughout the interview, and at times cried as he described how the SEC action had deprived him of being listed as the 405th wealthiest person in the world by Forbes magazine. "I'm the maverick rich Texan where they can put the moose head on the wall. And that's the only reason they went after me," Stanford said. "I'm fighting for my survival and for my integrity." Asked about descriptions that compared his financial empire to that of convicted Ponzi scheme operator Bernard Madoff, Stanford reacted with anger. "Bullsh--. That's bullsh--," he said. "It makes me madder than hell and it touches the core of my soul."

Stanford said the government action to seize his assets had left him with little money and few changes of clothing. He was forced to fly on a commercial plane for the first time in almost two decades after the government seized his fleet of six private jets. "They make you take your shoes off and everything, it's terrible," he complained about the airport security that apparently came as a surprise to him.

The interview is airing tonight on World News with Charlies Gibson.