From: Bob Franken/CNN Congressional Correspondent
In: Washington
Posted 9-17-97

Subject: House Committee Investigating Campaign Fund-raising Delays Start Again

There will be no meeting Thursday of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, which had originally planned to make that the first day of testimony in the House hearings on alleged campaign fund-raising abuses.

The reason, according to committee sources, is that the Justice Department has not responded to a bipartisan request from the committee for its position on whether to grant the first witnesses immunity.

Originally, the House committee had planned to open its hearings today. Then the three initial witnnesses surprised committee leaders on Tuesday by suddenly insisting on immunity from prosecution, for any violations of the law arising from their admissions they laundered contributions to the Democratic National Committee on behalf of two central figures in the controversy, John Huang and Charlie Trie.

One of those witnesses is Trie's sister, another a close friend of his.

No new date for beginning the hearings has been set.

In Other News:

Wednesday Sept. 17, 1997

• It's Tamraz' Turn
• Tobacco Money Shifts To Republicans
• Clinton Proposes Change To Tobacco Pact
• Senior FBI Official To Head Justice Probe

E-mail From Washington:
• House Fund-raising Delayed Again
• Jones' Deposition Set For Nov. 12