Witnesses Link Chung To Illegal Donations To Clinton/Gore Campaign
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Nov. 11) -- Republican House committee investigators have interviewed several friends of controversial Democratic contributor Johnny Chung who say they were reimbursed by a Chung associate for contributions they made to the Clinton/Gore campaign in the fall of 1995, a committee source says.
It is illegal to make a donation in another person's name.
As first reported in Tuesday's Washington Post, this marks the first time one of the figures from the campaign finance controversy has been connected to improper contributions to the President's campaign rather than to the Democratic National Committee.
But Democrats point out committee investigators have not established any direct connection between Chung and the Clinton/Gore campaign. On Oct. 31, the committee subpoenaed the Clinton/Gore campaign for information regarding the contributors.
Chung's friends told investigators, during unsworn interviews, that a part-time employee of Chung asked them to write $1,000 checks and then reimbursed them immediately in cash. Four friends were reimbursed for contributions, one of whom has since passed away.
The committee believes it will find more instances of such abuses, the source said.
Chung has been subpoenaed to appear before the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee on Thursday, but even a Republican source says they are "skeptical" that Chung will appear. He has previously indicated that he plans to invoke his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination when questioned.
The committee still plans two days of hearings regarding Chung, with testimony from the first lady's chief of staff, Maggie Williams, National Security Council officials and possibly DNC officials.
In Other News:
Tuesday Nov. 11, 1997
• Powell Says He Won't Run In 2000
• Paula Jones Wants To Amend Her Complaint
• First Lady Arrives In Former Soviet Union
• Moneytrail Ties Between GOP And Anti-Tax Group
• Clinton Pays Tribute To The 'Valor Of Our Veterans'
• Witnesses Link Chung To Illegal Donations
FDCH Transcript:
• President Clinton's Veterans Day Address