DATE=12/15/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGRESS-CHINA-FUNDRAISING (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257190
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Just over three years ago, it was revealed
that foreign money from Asia had been illegally
funneled into President Clinton's re-election
campaign. Today (Wednesday), a key figure in the
scandal testified in public for the first time - and
defended the president. V-O-A's David Swan reports.
TEXT: John Huang, a former Democratic Party
fundraiser, was called before a House (of
Representatives) committee. He quickly denied the
most explosive allegation against him - that he spied
for China while working at the U-S Commerce Department
several years ago.
/// HUANG ACT ///
As the (U-S) Department of Justice subsequently
has acknowledged, I am not and never was a spy.
/// END ACT ///
Huang has pleaded guilty to breaking American campaign
finance laws. But he says he knows nothing to
implicate the president, the first lady or Vice-
President Gore. He rejected one particular charge
that committee Republicans raised - that Mr. Clinton
knowingly took a million dollars in illegal foreign
funds from Mr. Huang's former boss, Indonesian
executive James Riady.
While expressing remorse for his own crime, Huang
lashed out at those he says have unfairly demonized
Asian-Americans.
/// HUANG ACT ///
Americans have nothing to fear from me, but they
do have much to fear from within. Hate mongers,
bigots and regrettably, even some of our elected
officials, continue to tear at America's
greatest strength, its (ethnic) diversity.
/// END ACT ///
Republicans were unimpressed by Huang's denials. They
questioned him closely about his and Mr. Riady's fund
raising for the Democrats. Committee chairman Dan
Burton vowed to press the investigation as long as
necessary, even if the case is three years old and the
public may have lost interest.
/// BURTON ACT ///
I think the American people really want to know
if foreign governments and foreign individuals
are trying to influence our elections. I think
they want to know who their government is
beholden to. I think we have an obligation to
finish what we started. We have an obligation
to the history books to get the facts on record.
/// END ACT ///
The campaign finance hearings will continue later this
week. (Signed)
NEB/DS/TVM/JP
15-Dec-1999 16:19 PM EDT (15-Dec-1999 2119 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
