Berger Saw No 'Extraneous Influences' On Foreign Policy

National security advisor defends his participation in campaign meetings; Senate hearings recess until Tuesday

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Sep. 11) -- National Security Advisor Sandy Berger testified today that he saw no evidence of "extraneous influences" on the Clinton Administration's foreign policy, despite visits to the White House by some questionable characters with overseas interests.

Berger, in testimony before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, said there was no clear policy last year for screening overseas visitors who wanted time with President Bill Clinton or Vice President Al Gore.

But Berger said that since the flap over White House visits by big Democratic contributors, he has moved to tighten access and restrict contacts between the Democratic National Committee and the president's national security team.

"I felt very strongly that we needed to have a much clearer system, much more clarity for our staff people, so that there would not be any questions about how these things should be handled," Berger said.

Asked by Sen. Max Cleland (D-Ga.) whether the United States' national security was compromised by the Democrats' push to raise money, Berger declared, "Not in any way, senator."

Sen. Fred Thompson, the committee's chairman, pointed to a string of visits to the White House by questionable characters, including Johnny Chung and the Chinese businessmen who accompanied him; Wan Jun, a Chinese business executive whose company tried to smuggle arms into the U.S.; Lebanese businessman Roger Tamraz; and international businessmen from the Thailand-based CP Group brought in by Pauline Kanchanalak.

"I take it you were not aware of this disturbing pattern of activities?" Thompson asked Berger.

Berger said he would have been interested in knowing about the visits. "The system functions best when there is vetting," he said.

Weekly strategy meetings

Under questioning by Thompson, Berger defended his participation in weekly campaign strategy meetings during the Clinton re-election effort last year.

Berger said he wanted to make sure there was no distortion of Clinton's foreign policy record or positions in campaign ads or other materials.

"I was kind of a living stop sign," he said.

Republicans also questioned Berger about a picture that was taken of him and international businessman Eric Hotung whose wife gave substantial contributions to the Democratic National Committee (DNC). She is a U.S. citizen, but he is not. The meeting and photograph were requested by DNC chairman Don Fowler.

Berger said he asked his staff to check Hotung's background to determine whether posing for a photo with him was appropriate. He said he knew nothing about Hotung's wife's political contributions.

"I have no reason to believe that he [Eric Hotung] would misuse a photo," Berger said. "I have no reason to believe that he has." Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) noted that no one even ordered a copy of the photograph after it was taken.

Berger was the day's only witness. Thompson cut short the session because of other legislative business; the campaign finance hearings are due to resume at 10 a.m. EDT Tuesday.

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