Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
312197043
label
AMH [Alexis M. Herman]-Related News Clips [binder] [4]
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
312197043
contentType
document
title
AMH [Alexis M. Herman]-Related News Clips [binder] [4]
citationUrl
collections
Records of the Office of Staff Secretary (Clinton Administration)
Todd Stern's Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
312197043
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
otherTitles
7422166-20190774S-Seg2-002-001-2023
[Alexis Herman]
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
9c6a981d1d38180a
ocrText
Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a tabbed divider. Given our
digitization capabilities, we are sometimes unable to adequately
scan such dividers. The title from the original document is
indicated below.
Divider Title:
Feb. 21, 1997
LOS ANGELES TIMES (first-edition)
special counsel.
Page 1 for Friday, Feb. 21, 1997:
'This policy of supporting the président of Paraguay
established," said Davis, adding that it was the administratio.
Top of page:
ongoing policy to support democratic governments in Latin
America, especially the first democratically elected government in
Col 1: Feature on future of a local city.
Paraguay in 40 or more years."
The tale is just the latest in a series of disclosures about political
Col 2: Amid signs the Army's sexual misconduct scandal is reaching
contributions that have buffeted the White House and preoccupied
ever deeper, the Pentagon discloses that the commandant of an Army
congressional investigators. Nor was it the only one that captured
training base in Germany has been reassigned because of misconduct
attention in the capital Thursday.
Webster Hubbell, a former official in the Clinton Justice
allegations. (ARMY, moved).
Department, and John Huang, a former Democratic fund-raiser, told
Cols 3-5: Wild art of James Earl Ray.
Congress that they planned to invoke the Fifth Amendment right
against self-incrimination and would not turn over documents
Col 6: In a capitulation likely to make it easier for defrauded
subpoenaed by congressional investigators.
Prudential Insurance Co. customers to get their money back, the giant
Two others tangled up in the fund-raising controversy, Charles Yah
insurer reaches tentative agreements with California and three other
Lin Trie and Pauline Kanchanalak, also have indicated they would not
states that had opposed as inadequate a class-action settlement
turn over certain business records sought by investigators.
affecting 10.7 million life insurance customers. (PRUDENTIAL,
Separately, the White House was scrambling to respond to a report
moved).
by NBC News that it was home to workers on the payroll of the
Democratic National Committee. Late Thursday, White House Chief
Above fold:
of Staff Erskine Bowles decided to shift the five employees to the
White House payroll, after Clinton ordered a review of the practice.
Col 2: The White House releases records showing the number of
The employees work in the offices of the vice president, public liaison
times a generous Democratic donor with ties to the Paraguay
and the scheduling and advance staff.
government got access to the White House. (DONATE, moved).
This revelation is deeply troubling and extremely serious," Rep.
David M. McIntosh, R-Ind., contended in a letter to White House
Cols 3-4: Local poll story.
counsel Charles Ruff earlier in the day. Apart from the obvious legal
concerns about the use of political funds to augment official
Col 5: Feature on The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department,
government activity, it clearly suggests that the DNC had
accused of overcharging the state millions of dollars for medical care
inappropriate and perhaps illegal access" to a White House database
provided to jailed parole violators.
that is legally off-limits to party officials.
In the tale of Jimenez and U.S. policy to Paraguay, the questions
Below fold:
center on the link between large donations and special access and
influence allowed those who make them. Jimenez has actually
Col 4: With drug czar Gen. Jose de Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo
contributed more than $100,000 to the Democrats, although the
imprisoned on charges of collaborating with Mexico's biggest
amount and dates of the other donations were not immediately
narcotics-smuggling cartels, U.S. intelligence agencies are feverishly
available. The White House suggested Thursday the total amount will
assessing the damage done by his access to the confidential
reach several hundred thousand.
inner-workings of U.S. counter-narcotics efforts and the intricacies
According to records released Thursday, Jimenez apparently visited
and secrets of the joint U.S.-Mexican drug warin a better than even
the White House 12 times over the last few years. The majority of
chance to maintain his position at the head of Chinese leadership, but
visits were gatherings that mixed politics and socializing, such as two
political succession in China is a tricky business, fraught with hidden
Democratic Party dinners in 1995, along with a holiday reception and
dangers, and Jiang faces several challenges leading up to an important
Arkansas Lawn Concert.
Communist Party congress in October. (CHINA-JIANG, moved).
But some of the meetings were with Thomas F. "Mack" McLarty,
Clinton's former chief of staff who was traveling extensively through
Cols 4-6: Local reaction to murder charge against released convicted
Latin America and subsequently named a special envoy to the region.
rapist Lawrence Singleton.
McLarty often met with business executives and others who had
insight into political and economic issues in Latin America. After
about 15 minutes of one such meeting in early 1996, when Jimenez
Donor Voiced Paraguay Concerns During White
sought to discuss an escalating constitutional crisis involving the
military in Paraguay, McLarty broke up the meeting, saying he wanted
House Visits (Washn) By Jonathan Peterson
specialists in attendance, according to a White House account
(c) 1997, Los Angeles Times
Thursday.
WASHINGTON Secret Service records released Thursday show
McLarty and Jimenez next met in early April, along with two
that
representatives from the State Department and an official of the
a contributor to the Democratic Party with ties to Paraguay was
National Security Council. A week later, Jimenez returned with
invited to the White House 12 times between 1994 and 1996, and the
Paraguay's ambassador to the United States.
administration confirmed that he met with top U.S. officials to discuss
``I saved democracy in Paraguay," Jimenez bragged in the Wall
concerns about a coup in that South American country.
Street Journal article.
The contributor, Mark Jimenez, urged the White House to try to help
Bunaware of the $100,000 donation.
with Paraguay's plight, and President Clinton later called that nation's
Said one: This guy's taking credit, perhaps for his own purposes
beleaguered leader to express support when the government plunged
and that's unseemly."
into a brief constitutional crisis last year. As tension with the military
eased, the Democratic National Committee received $100,000 from
Jimenez.
The extraordinary access given Jimenez provides another example
of the ability of Democratic donors to gain access to the president's
foreign policy apparatus on issues of importance to them.
But White House officials Thursday vehemently denied any link
between the donations from Jimenez, who is a wealthy Florida
computer executive whose sales to Paraguay were crucial to his
growing South American export market, and administration policies
affecting Paraguay. The Wall Street Journal reported the series of
events earlier this week.
The suggestion that this policy and President Clinton's support for
(Paraguay's) President Juan Carlos Wasmosy had anything to do with
Mark Jimenez's visits much less his contribution is totally baseless
and without any shred of evidence," said Lanny Davis, White House
Huang may cooperate
with House investigation
By Tom Squitieri
and Judi Hasson
USA TODAY
Al
Tenn. court
John Huang, a key figure in
the Democratic fund-raising
opens door
controversy, is seeking limited
seeks immunity
immunity in exchange for his
cooperation with a House in-
to Ray trial
vestigating committee.
Huang and former associate
By Richard Willing
attorney general Webster Hub-
USA TODAY
AI
bell refused Thursday to turn
over documents subpoenaed
MEMPHIS - A county
by the House Government Re-
judge took the first step Thurs-
form and Oversight Commit-
day toward re-opening the case
tee. Two dozen subpoenas have
against convicted assassin
been issued by the panel.
James Earl Ray after emotion-
Huang and Hubbell invoked
al testimony from the widow
their Fifth Amendment privi-
and son of the Rev. Martin Lu-
lege against self-incrimination
ther King Jr.
in refusing the panel's demand.
Judge Joseph Brown ruled
In a letter to the panel,
that it is "theoretically possi-
Huang's lawyer agreed to turn
ble" that new tests could prove
over some documents and sig-
Ray's rifle did not fire the shot
naled for the first time that he
that killed King as he stood on
wants a deal in exchange for
a Memphis motel balcony in
giving up more information.
April 1968.
Huang apparently wants im-
Ray's lawyers believe that a
munity from prosecution
special electron microscope
based on the documents he
not available in 1968 and
turns over.
scarcely used today will rule
Lawyers for both men re-
Ray out as the assassin and
fused to comment.
overturn his conviction.
The Hubbell-Huang refusals
Ray pleaded guilty in 1969 to
appear to be the start of legal
killing King and was sentenced
maneuverings that could slow
to 99 years in prison. But he
the launch of both House and
quickly changed his story and
Senate probes into the growing
began seeking the trial he did
fund-raising furor.
not have due to his plea.
Two other figures in the con-
Ray's lead lawyer, William
troversy, businessman Charles
Pepper, called three experts to
USA TODAY
Yah Lin Trie and Thai busi-
testify. But the hearing's dra-
nesswoman Pauline Kanchan-
ma was supplied by two sur-
alak, instructed their lawyer
prise witnesses: Coretta Scott
Thursday not to accept Senate
King and her son, Dexter, 36.
subpoenas seeking business re-
Both Kings support a trial for
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1997
cords tied to their fund-raising
Ray to "bring some sense of
for Democrats.
closure about my husband's
White House spokesman
death," as Mrs. King said. Her
Lanny Davis said President
late husband supported justice
Clinton respects decisions
even for those who showed the
made "under advice of coun-
"vilest hate."
sel." However, Davis said Clin-
"If Mr. Ray is denied a trial,
ton "wants all the facts to come
our family and indeed the en-
out as quickly as possible."
tire nation will also be denied
Former U.S. attorney Joseph
the due process of law that is
diGenova said the Fifth
the birthright of every citizen."
Amendment claim would not
But the Memphis judge
hold up in court and appeared
stopped short of ordering the
to be made simply to delay the
new tests. He referred that de-
panel's investigation.
cision to Tennessee's Court of
Hubbell is a former law part-
Criminal Appeals. That court,
ner of Hillary Rodham Clinton
which has turned down a simi-
who just ended a 17-month sen-
lar request from Ray's lawyers
tence for tax evasion. He was
once before, can take any-
ordered to produce documents
where from a few days up to a
about payments he. received
year to act.
from Clinton allies in 1994.
Pepper said the ruling "put
Those payments included an
us further along the road than
estimated $250,000 from the
we've ever been before" to-
Lippo Group, the Indonesian
ward getting a trial for Ray.
conglomerate in the center of
But he said his client's "longev-
the fund-raising debate.
ity" is'a factor.
Huang, a former Commerce
Ray, 68, is in a Tennessee
Department aide and fund-rai-
prison hospital dying of liver
sier for the Democratic Nation-
disease. If he dies, his appeal
al Committee, once headed the
becomes moot.
U.S. operations of Lippo.
Databaserevelation-changes White House intern policy
By Paul Bedard
only four remaining DNC-paid
volunteers and interns were moles
White House social office, the of-
eral other offices were granted
want it investigated for political
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
workers.
pilfering official data for political
fices of personal correspondence,
access, such as the domestic policy.
misuse.
"On balance, we'd rather have
use by the DNC.
public liaison and legislative af-
shop, the White House Office of
"Apart from the obvious legal
The White House last night
the four individuals currently on
An administration official said
fairs and the first lady's operation
Women's Initiatives and Outreach,
concerns about the use of political
abruptly ended a policy of allow-
the DNC payroll on the White
some of the 12 were paid by the
and Oval Office would have access
the White House Fellowship Pro-
funds to augment official govern-
ing outside political groups to pay
House payroll and discontinue the
Democratic Party; only one -
to the system.
gram, and even the West Wing re-
ment activity, it clearly suggests
for West Wing volunteers and in-
practice," White House spokesman
Barbara Woolley was named by
Of the six volunteers with access
ceptionist, Debra Schiff.
that the DNC had inappropriate
terns, some of whom worked on
Michael McCurry said last night.
the White House. The White
to the secret system, according to
A White House official said
and perhaps illegal access to
the secret White House database
Documents provided to The
House counsel's office had told
a July 1996 memo, one works in
those offices needed access to the
WHoDB," said Rep. David M.
of Clinton donors and supporters.
Times show that 12 interns and
Congress that no party aides had
first lady Hillary Rodham Clin-
database.
McIntosh, Indiana Republican.
The policy change came after
volunteers regularly used the sen-
access to the computer system.
ton's office, one in the personal
The computer system tracks ev-
the White House revealed that the
sitive computer system, which
In a June 1996 memo, for exam-
correspondence unit, two in the so-
ery Clinton supporter and White
Mr. McIntosh, a subcommittee
salaries of 20 of its workers had
tracks the personal and political
ple, the White House said "every
cial office, one in political affairs
House visitor since he took office
chairman on the House Govern-
been paid by the Democratic Na-
histories and activities of some
precaution is being taken to secure
and one for public liaison.
and includes sensitive information
ment Reform and Oversight Com-
tional Committee, and after The
355,000 Clinton supporters, do-
all files, electronic and hard copy,
Of the six interns, four work in
such as Social Security numbers,
mittee, is probing WHoDB for po-
Washington Times asked about
nors and White House visitors.
and access continues to be limited
presidential personnel, one in Oval
family heritage, political contribu-
litical misuse.
new documents showing that some
The documents u dermine ad-
to those individuals whose official
Office operations and one in an un-
tion record and reason for meeting
"Iam really outraged. The coun-
of the 12 interns and volunteers
ministration claims that the sys-
duties require access."
identified office. Two other log-ins
with the Clintons.
sel's office assured us no one from
working on the database were paid
tem was secure and protected
Previous memos describing the
are set aside for volunteers in
The documents provided to The
the DNC had access to the system
by the DNC.
from political abuse, but the White
White House Database, known by
other offices.
Times emboldened congressional
and how we find out they did," said
The policy change will affect
House rebuffed charges that the
the acronym WHoDB, said the
The documents showed that sev-
critics of the computer system who
Mr. McIntosh.
tions improve.
in
tinue the hunger strike until condi-
second term, said he would con-
signed in 1995 in the middle of his
Reynolds, a Democrat who re-
an exam if he refused to eat.
could force Reynolds to submit to
The judge said prison officials
shock, Mr. Ferguson said.
gerous level, which could result in
sugar levels have fallen to a dan-
tors examine him to see his blood
Reynolds has refused to let doc-
other inmates.
The Washington Times
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1997
signed to protect Reynolds from
guson said the restrictions are de-
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Fer-
strike two days after the transfer.
pounds since starting the hunger
client may have lost as much as 20
Attorney Robert Loeb said his
Wednesday.
trict Judge Charles Norgle on
mal," Reynolds, 45, told U.S. Dis-
"I'm being treated like an ani-
and bank fraud charges.
coming trial on campaign finance
his attorney to prepare for an up-
he was denied adequate access to
federal center Feb. 7. He also said
ing moved from a state prison to a
and solitary confinement since be-
justice, complained of dismal cells
campaign worker and obstructing
sexually abusing an underage
conditions.
Reynolds, serving five years for
hunger strike protesting prison
force-feeding if he doesn't end a
mit to medical tests and possibly
Mel Reynolds was ordered to sub-
CHICAGO (AP) - Former Rep.
prison
not eating
Reynolds
Associated Press
"Former Clinton administration of-
ficial Webster L. Hubbell and Demo-
cratic fund-raiser John Huang told
Congress yesterday they will invoke
their Fifth Amendment privilege
against self-incrimination and refuse
to turn over subpoenaed documents,
House aide said.
Two of the key figures in the
Memocratic fund-raising controver-
Huang Say They'll Invoke Fifth Amendment
$, Hubbell and Huang informed the
House Government Reform and
Gyersight Committee by letter, said
Barbara Comstock, the panel's chief
investigative counsel.
The two had been ordered in the
subpoenas to produce the docu-
ments by yesterday.
Comstock said Hubbell refused to
produce any documents. Huang pro-
duced some documents and declined
to turn over others on the advice of
his attorney. Huang's letter, how-
ever, suggested he would consider
turning over more documents if he
was given limited immunity for the
document production, Comstock said.
Hubbell, a longtime friend of Presi-
dent Clinton's and a central player in
the Whitewater criminal probe, had
been ordered to produce documents
about payments he received from
Clinton allies while he was under
criminal investigation in 1994.
After resigning from the Justice
Department three years ago, Hubbell
received money from a company
owned by the family of Indonesian bil-
lionaire Mochtar Riady, a longtime
Clinton friend and political supporter.
Huang, a former Commerce De-
partment aide and former vice chair-
man of the Democratic National Com-
mittee, once headed the U.S. opera-
tions of the Lippo Group, one of the
Riady family's businesses.
Hubbell, a former law partner of Hil-
lary Rodham Clinton, pleaded guilty to
tax evasion and mail fraud in the White-
water investigation and agreed to coop-
The Washington Post
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1997
Hubbell,
erate fully with prosecutors. But his
memory lapses-he says he is unable
to recall events of a decade ago-have
frustrated investigators' efforts to get
to the bottom of Whitewater.
Huang, Hubbell both take Fifth;
Trie, Kanchanalak may be in Asia
AI
The disgraced former associate
Investigators want to know if the
By Jerry Seper
attorney general was asked to pro-
legal-defense money was a politi-
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
duce records on his receipt of
cal payoff, the sources said. They
$325,000 in fees in the nine months
also are trying to determine what
John Huang and Webster L.
Hubbell, at the center of a con-
between his March 1994 Justice
role Mr. Trie played in a White
gressional probe into foreign-
Department resignation and his
House "coffee" in February 1996
linked campaign contributions,
December 1994 guilty plea in the
involving Mr. Clinton and Chinese
Whitewater investigation. The
arms dealer Wang Jun. The two
yesterday asserted their Fifth
House panel wants to know if the
men met with the president at a
Amendment rights against self-
incrimination in refusing to turn
money was intended to limit his
session arranged by the DNC and
over documents subpoenaed by
promised cooperation in the
attended by other campaign con-
a House committee.
Whitewater probe. The bulk of the
tributors. Mr. Wang was the guest
Two other targets of House
fees, $250,000, came from the
of Mr. Trie at the meeting.
and Senate subpoenas, Arkansas
Lippo Group.
The White House has said it did
businessman Charles Yah Lin
Independent counsel Kenneth
not know Mr. Wang was chairman
Trie, who gave $640,000 in ques-
W. Starr also is looking into the
of a Chinese arms company known
tionable donations to President
fees, and Mr. Hubbell has testified
as Poly Technologies Inc. The firm
before the Whitewater grand jury
Clinton's legal-defense fund, and
makes weapons for the Chinese
in Little Rock. Last year, he re-
Thai businesswoman Pauline
military and at the time of the visit
fused to tell the Senate Whitewater
Kanchanalak, whose $253,300
was under investigation by the U.S.
Committee about his Lippo ties.
contribution to the Democratic
Customs Service in a major smug-
Barbara Comstock, the commit-
National Committee was re-
gling operation. It had been identi-
tee's chief investigative counsel,
turned, are believed to have left
fied by undercover agents as a sup-
confirmed that Mr. Huang and Mr.
the country to avoid producing
plier of 2,000 AK-47s delivered to
Hubbell had been ordered to pro-
any records.
drug dealers and street gangs in
duce the documents by the close of
Mr. Trie, whose records were
the United States.
business yesterday. She would not
sought by the House Govern-
comment on what action the com-
The same day of the White
ment Reform and Oversight
mittee will consider in its re-
House coffee, Mr. Wang met with
Committee, and Mrs. Kanchana-
Commerce Secretary Ronald H.
sponse.
lak, a target of a Senate Govern-
Mr. Huang was not available
Brown, former DNC chairman.
mental Affairs Committee sub-
yesterday for comment, but he
poena, are believed to be in Asia,
Officials with the legal defense
previously has denied any wrong-
fund returned Mr. Trie's money
doing. Mr. Hubbell also was un-
see HUANG, page All
after questions had been raised
available.
about its source. The donations in-
From page AI
Mr. Trie did not respond to mes-
cluded checks with signatures that
sources close to the committees
sages left on a telephone answer-
matched those on other checks and
said.
ing machine at his Little Rock
money orders that were numbered
House committee lawyers con-
company, Daihatsu International
sequentially but supposedly orig-
firmed yesterday that Mr. Huang
Trading Corp. He and Mrs. Kan-
inated from people in different
had asserted his rights against
chanalak reportedly told their at-
cities.
self-incrimination in refusing to
torney, Reid H. Weingarten, to
turn over documents to the panel,
refuse service of any congres-
but they said he suggested in a let-
sional subpoenas. Mr. Weingarten
ter he would be willing to discuss
did not return calls to his office for
a possible grant of immunity with
comment.
regard to the production of other
The Senate and House commit-
records.
tees have issued more than 70 sub-
The former Lippo Group execu-
poenas for documents in their in-
tive, Commerce Department offi-
vestigation of contributions to Mr.
cial and DNC fund-raiser, through
Clinton and the DNC, and into the
his attorney, John C. Kenney Jr.,
activities of key DNC fund-raisers
handed over some documents this
and administration officials.
week and said he would be willing
to work with the panel but needed
Mr. Trie, a longtime Clinton sup-
a deal guaranteeing him limited
porter, also is a focus of a Justice
immunity before he would proceed
Department task force investiga-
further.
tion, which has subpoenaed the
About half the $3.4 million Mr.
president's legal-defense fund for
Huang is believed to have raised
records concerning the $640,000
for Mr. Clinton and the Democratic
donation. The donation, delivered
Party has since been returned be-
in two large envelopes, was later
cause of questions over its source.
returned when fund executives
Mr. Hubbell, released last week
said they could not determine the
The Washington Times
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1997
after serving a 16-month sentence
source of the money.
for fraud and tax evasion in the
bilking of his former partners at
Little Rock's Rose Law Firm, flatly
asserted his Fifth Amendment
rights and told the committee he
would not turn over any doc-
uments in the panel's ongoing in-
vestigation, committee lawyers
confirmed.
Mottine 2/21/97
DEM FUNDRAISING: ARE HUANG & HUBBELL LOOKING FOR A DEAL?
Ex-DNC fundraiser John Huang and ex-assoc. AG Webster
Hubbell have refused to turn over subpoenaed documents to the
House Gov't Reform & Oversight cmte, claiming their Fifth
Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Senate sources said
two other figures in the ongoing fundraising controversy, AR
businessman Charles Yah Lin Trie and Thai businesswoman Pauline
Kanchanalak, "have instructed their lawyer not to accept service
of Senate subpoenas for business records." Although Hubbell
refused to produce any documents, Huang produced some and his
letter to the cmte "suggested he would consider turning over more
documents if he were given limited immunity for the document
production" (AP/AZ DAILY STAR, 2/21).
LET'S MAKE A DEAL? Huang's request for immunity "signaled
for the first time that he wants a deal in exchange for giving up
more information." The Hubbell-Huang refusals "appear to be the
start of legal maneuvering that could slow the launch of both
House and Senate probes into the growing fund-raising furor.' WH
spokesperson Lanny Davis said Pres. Clinton respects the
decisions made "under advice of counsel." However, Davis said
Clinton "wants all the facts to come out as quickly as possible."
Ex-U.S. Atty Joseph diGenova "said the Fifth Amendment claim
would not hold up in court and appeared to be simply to delay the
panel's investigation" (Squitieri/Hasson, USA TODAY, 2/21). As
for Trie and Kanchanalak, W. TIMES' Seper reports that they are
"believed to have left the country to avoid producing any
records." Sources close to the cmtes said the two are believed
to be in Asia (2/21).
LATEST ROLE: Senate Gov't Affairs Cmte chair Fred
Thompson's role in heading up the investigation is profiled in
today's N.Y. TIMES and W.S. JOURNAL. W. POST's Dionne, under
header "Fred Thompson's Hot Potato,' writes that only by "facing
up to his own party's money problems" will Thompson be effective
in going after the Dems: "If Thompson wants to be a reformer,
he'll have to take the risk" (2/21).
RED SKELETON? The N.Y. POST's front page features a picture
of Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton with three Asian men under the
headline: "White House Hustler, DNC got meeting with Cabinet big
for shady donor." The "New Skeleton in Clinton's Cabinet" is
that the DNC arranged a meeting with then-Energy Sec. Hazel
O'Leary for a Chinese friend of a "big-bucks donor whom the
president's aides considered a 'hustler.' O'Leary agreed to
meet with a friend of Johnny Chung, who gave $366,000 to the DNC
and "who used his pull to get pals to meet President Clinton and
other top U.S. officials." It is the "latest example where the
DNC -- under fire for dangling access to Clinton and other key
administration players to raise campaign cash -- intervened with
a U.S. official on behalf of a generous donor" (Galvin, N.Y.
POST, 2/21).
BAYH THE WAY: Ex-IN Gov. Evan Bayh (D) invited Huang to an
"informal retreat" last summer to "discuss Bayh's political
future.' A Bayh spokesperson said Huang, who declined the
invitation, would not have been invited had Bayh's staff "known
about his questionable activities." Bayh also returned a $2,000
contribution from Huang earmarked for a potential Bayh '98 Senate
race after the "uang controversy surfaced, though Bayh
"maintained that the contributions were legal" (Smith, AP/
INDIANAPOLIS STAR/NEWS, 2/20).