DOWNSIDE LEGACY AT TWO DEGREES OF PRESIDENT CLINTON
SECTION: THE CAST
SUBSECTION: HENRY WAXMAN
Revised 8/16/99
Another project initiated by Freeper Yellow Rose of Texas!
Washington Post - Campaign Finance Key Player: Henry Waxman "…Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) is the ranking Democrat on the Government Reform and Oversight Committee, the House committee investigating campaign finance abuses. He is neither a fan of the committee's chairman, Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), nor of the investigation itself, which he said in July 1997 was in "complete disarray, and is facing a meltdown. ... It's time to end the House investigation and let the Senate do the job." …"
"…Here are a few excerpts taken directly from the web page of the Democratic Socialists of America. (Italicized emphasis provided) "The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is the largest socialist organization in the United States, and the principal U.S. affiliate of the Socialist International. DSA's members are building progressive movements for social change while establishing an openly socialist presence in American communities and politics. "At the root of our socialism is a profound commitment to democracy, as means and end. We are activists committed not only to extending political democracy but to demanding democratic empowerment in the economy, in gender relations, and in culture. Democracy is not simply one of our political values but our means of restructuring society. Our vision is of a society in which people have a real voice in the choices and relationships that affect the entirety of our lives. We call this vision democratic socialism - a vision of a more free, democratic and humane society. We are socialists because we reject an international economic order sustained by private profit, alienated labor, race and gender discrimination, environmental destruction, and brutality and violence in defense of the status quo. We are socialists because we share a vision of a humane international social order based both on democratic planning and market mechanisms to achieve equitable distribution of resources, meaningful work, a healthy environment, sustainable growth, gender and racial equality, and non-oppressive relationships." ….The web site boasts the creation of the "Progressive Caucus" in Congress, as well as the coalition that is working to promote the socialist agenda in Congress. Congressional Members of the Progressive Caucus… Rep Henry A. Waxman (CA-29) …."
Insight Jennifer G. Hickey "....The Chung testimony resurrected concern that contributions to the Clinton-Gore campaign from China's intelligence services were to buy influence for the Beijing government. His detailed account of his role in the 1996 campaign-finance scandal was, scandal watchers are saying, a smoking gun....Although repeatedly delayed, the testimony of the former busboy and Democratic Party fund-raiser who visited the Clinton White House on more than 50 occasions began on a political note when Chung lit into the reluctance of the congressional panel to approve campaign-finance reform. According to a Capitol Hill staffer, it was as if Al Capone had been brought to Washington to lecture congressmen on the need for better laws against bootlegging...... And the DNC's need of Chung is eloquently evidenced in a Nov. 10, 1995, memo from the DNC's Ari Swiller, asking DNC chairman Don Fowler to call Chung concerning a donation he was to make. "Johnny committed to contribute $75,000 to the DNC at the reception in Los Angeles on September 21. He has still not sent his contribution. Tell him if he does not complete his commitment ASAP bad things will happen," said the memo. It looked like an offer Chung couldn't refuse..... Perhaps it was summarized best by U.S. District Judge Manuel Real of Los Angeles in his sentencing of Chung: "If Mr. [former DNC chairman Don] Fowler and Mr. [DNC finance chairman Richard] Sullivan didn't know what was going on, I think they are the dumbest politicians I've ever seen.".....From the get-go, however, ranking member Waxman tried to make the issue Chung's character rather than corruption of the DNC and the Clinton-Gore campaign. Democrats on the committee were shocked, shocked, that bribery was afoot and took Chung to the woodshed..... A final footnote involves the case of James Parish, a 16-year veteran of the State Department who worked at the American Embassy in Beijing from 1994 to 1996. Parish met Chung when the latter brought a Mr. He, the head of Haomen Beer, to the embassy to assist in getting He's visa renewed. Chung swears Parish arranged visas for dozens of individuals for whom Chung was getting invitations to the United States and, in return, Chung got Parish into a VIP reception with Clinton, trained Parish's secretary in computer skills and spent $7,000 to $8,000 on seven students Parish knew who wanted to be educated in the United States. Chung says this relationship ended when He asked Chung to take a "shopping bag full of money and visas" to Parish....."
Martha Perske and Sara Mahler 1/2/96 "…Congressman Henry Waxman apparently thinks he can misrepresent the contents of a public document and get away with it. That is exactly what he seems to have done in his formal summation, dated November 15, 1995, in response to the new report on environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) that he, himself, had requested from the Congressional Research Service (CRS), a nonpartisan branch of the Library of Congress. ("Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Lung Cancer Risk," by C. Stephen Redhead, Analyst in Life Sciences and Richard E. Rowberg, Senior Specialist in Science and Technology, Science Policy Research Division, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, November 14, 1995.) Contrary to Waxman's claims, the CRS report shows that the studies on ETS are plagued with so many uncertainties that one cannot claim any clear finding of a public health hazard from ETS. We shall present Waxman's claims and juxtapose them with actual quotes from the CRS report. You will see that he appears to thoroughly distort what the CRS really said. *
WAXMAN: "The new (CRS) report vindicates the conclusions of the Environmental Protection Agency. It shows that secondhand tobacco smoke is a dangerous human lung carcinogen."
CRS: "...it is possible that very few or even no deaths can be attributed to ETS." (p. 55) "...if there are any lung cancer deaths from ETS exposure, they are likely to be concentrated among those subjected to the (highest) exposure levels...primarily among those nonsmokers subjected to significant spousal ETS." (p. 53) CRS explains, however, that even at the highest exposure levels, "the measured risks are still subject to uncertainty." (p. 2). Contrary to the EPA's conclusion (referenced on page 1 of the report), the CRS says that the chemical similarities between mainstream smoke and side stream smoke (the major component of ETS) "do not prove the relationship" between lung cancer and ETS "since ETS is substantially diluted and aged compared to even low levels of active smoking." (p. 19) * * * * * * * *
WAXMAN: "Since the release of the 1993 EPA report classifying ETS as a human lung carcinogen, there have been four major new studies of ETS. Three of the four studies report a statistically significant increase in lung cancer rates at the highest exposure levels." Waxman claims this is a "major finding" of the CRS report.
CRS: "...even at the (highest) exposure levels, the measured risks are still subject to uncertainty." (p. 2) "...smoker misclassification could explain all the measured risk even at high exposure levels..." (pp. 40, 41) * * * * * * * *
WAXMAN: "Using data from the recently completed Fontham study, the CRS calculated that the range of annual lung cancer deaths from exposure to ETS is 470 to 5,500 with a mean value of 2,780 -- virtually the same level of deaths estimated by the EPA."
CRS: The figures mentioned by Waxman, based on the Fontham study, were simply cited by the CRS, followed closely by the statement that "Data from the Brownson et al. study, on the other hand, produce no annual lung cancer deaths from ETS also under the no-threshold assumption." (p.2) "In the final Fontham study, a small adjustment (for smoker misclassification) could render the overall Fontham results statistically insignificant at the 95 percent level." (pp. 24, 25) "...simulated calculations indicate that misclassification can be a potent uncertainty in these ETS (epidemiologic) studies, and could account for the measured risks values." (p. 3)* * * * * * *
WAXMAN: "The lung cancer risks from exposure to ETS are EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH." (emphasis added) Again, Waxman claims that this is a "major finding" of the CRS report.
CRS: "Even when overall risk is considered it is a very SMALL risk and is not statistically significant at a conventional 95 percent level." (emphasis added) (p. 25) * * * * * * * *
WAXMAN: "The tobacco industry has long argued the ETS is not dangerous because there is a "threshold" level of exposure below which there is no risk of lung cancer."
CRS: "...the possibility cannot be ruled out that a threshold level does exist if there is a real effect from ETS." (p. 31) It should be pointed out that by citing numbers (risk estimates), Waxman appears to have done exactly what the CRS warned against. The purpose of presenting these numbers was " NOT (CRS underlining) to compute a definitive number of lung cancer deaths which may result from ETS, but rather to illustrate the effect of various factors...on those numbers." (p. 47) Had the CRS report come out the way Congressman Waxman would have liked, surely he would have issued a press release -- and this would have been a lead story for many days. As it stands, the mainstream media keeps right on headlining stories about the "dangers" of ETS as if the CRS report doesn't exist. Shouldn't Waxman, who seems so eager to grill others about misrepresenting the tobacco issue, be grilled himself for what appears to be a blatant misrepresentation of the CRS report? …"
7/15/96 Washington Weekly "…The House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight lastweek started hearings into alleged ties between the Clinton administration and Mob-controlled labor unions. Union boss Arthur E. Coia of the Laborers' International Union has close ties to several Mob leaders, and has been under investigation by the FBI for Mob-influenced racketeering. The Clinton Justice Department, however, settled the RICO suit against Coia on terms that were very favorable to Coia. The law firm defending Coia, Williams and Conolly, is the same law firm defending Clinton against Whitewater charges. Republicans allege that the Clinton administration let Coia off the hook because of his generous campaign contributions. Coia was recently seen as aco-chairman of a Democratic fundraiser, and Hillary Clinton had her picture taken with him. "There is a pattern," said House Majority Leader Dick Armey last week, "when the Justice Department reaches a settlement with the Laborers International Union and leaves its president, Arthur Coia, in charge rather than proceed with racketeering charges against an organization that supports President Clinton." Democrats on the committee attacked Republicans for partisanship. "It's hard for me to see how this hearing isn't part of a political agenda," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif. He may have other motives than protecting the President, however. An investigation by the Washington Weekly reveals that Henry Waxman has taken money from Laborers' International Union. In accordance with the charge by Democrats last week that Bob Dole is in the pocket of the Tobacco Industry, one might say that Henry Waxman is in the pocket of the Mob.
10/9/97 NewsHour Transcript "….The House finally began hearing testimony from witnesses looking into the work of DNC donor "Charlie" Yah Lin Trie. In the Senate, the committee began exploring the connection between the DNC and Ron Carey's run for the president of the Teamsters Union. The Online Explainers take your question on the investigation. The NewsHour's coverage of the Congressional Investigation. The inside stories on the political fight behind the public investigation. The investigation is big news in Washington, but how's it playing around the country. A closer look at the issues really under scrutiny by the Congress….. REP. DAN BURTON: While I’m disappointed that this hearing will not be televised, we believe the American people have the right to know what these witnesses have to say. KWAME HOLMAN: But once the cameras left the room Manlin Fong said she knew little about her brother’s business practices and nothing about his political activities. She said she made contributions to the DNC simply because he asked her to. Landon gave similar answers. Well aware of what the witnesses would say based on their earlier depositions the committee’s top Democrat, Henry Waxman, questioned the need to hear from them since the Thompson committee on the Senate side had heard the same stories from similar witnesses three months ago. REP. HENRY WAXMAN, (D) California: There is nothing in their deposition that ads to the knowledge to what Sen. Thompson uncovered in his July 19 hearing. KWAME HOLMAN: and as for the third witness, David Wang, Waxman accused him of giving false testimony because in his deposition Wang claimed to have meet with DNC fund-raiser John Huang on a day when records show Huang actually was three thousand miles away. REP. HENRY WAXMAN: It is now clear that David Wang never should have received immunity. He has repeatedly misled this committee and Chairman Burton and his staff and our staff. The essence of his testimony appeared to be a fiction. …"
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM AND OVERSIGHT U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, D.C. In the matter of: : FBI FILES : DEPOSITION OF CRAIG LIVINGSTONE Tuesday, September 24, 1996 Washington, D.C. The deposition in the above matter was held in Room 2203, Rayburn House Office Building, commencing at 10:30 a.m. "…
Mr. Burton. Let me say something, Henry. You and I are here if we want to ask questions, but this fellow is here to defend Mr. Livingstone and to raise objections, not you or I. We are here to ask questions. I don't know why you are deliberately trying to slow down the process.
Mr. Waxman. I am not trying to slow down the process. I want to be sure that the process is a fair process and within the scope of the rules and I don't feel that we have delegated that completely to Ms. Olson to determine, because this is a decision for the Members.
Mr. Burton. When I came in, I did nothing but ask questions and I tried to do so in an orderly manner. I think that the same thing should apply to all Members of Congress who come here. I don't think we should try to stop the process and I think that's what you are trying to do.
Mr. Waxman. I am not trying to stop the process.
Mr. Burton. Let her ask the questions.
Mr. Waxman. I will let her ask the questions, but I want her to stay within the scope of the inquiry.
Mr. Burton. By whose definition of scope? You see, Henry, you are defining what the scope ought to be.
Mr. Waxman. I think you are right. The scope is to be determined by the Members if there is a dispute as to the scope.
Mr. Burton. I have no objection to you asking any questions you want, Henry, and ask the questions, but to stay here -- you are an obstruction to getting through this process.
Mr. Waxman. I certainly do not seek to be an obstructionist in getting through this process. I know everybody wants to complete the deposition. Mr. Livingstone has been here for many, many hours. I just want to be sure that the questions are related to the investigation and we don't go far afield…."
LA Weekly, 11/1/96 "…The ablest liberal legislator of the ‘80s and ‘90s (his only peer, in the other House, is Ted Kennedy), Waxman was at it again in the waning months of the Gingrich Congress, amassing enough votes to force reluctant Republicans to sign on to legislation strengthening drinking-water standards and toxic protections." --
The Almanac of American Politics, 1998 "…Waxman had less success on reforming national health care when the issue came out in the open. He wanted to move to something like a single-payer, government-paid program and supported the Clinton plan, but to no avail…."
5/13/98 The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer Transcript Republican Dan Burton, chairman of the House Government Reform & Oversight Committee, tried again today to get his committee to approve immunity for four potential witnesses. The committee voted and failed, once again, to reach the 2/3 needed to grant immunity. Kwame Holman has the story. ….KWAME HOLMAN: But Democrats wanted to debate what they contend is Burton's abuse of power as committee chairman. Just this week, Henry Waxman, the ranking Democrat on the committee, called for Burton to step down as chairman. REP. HENRY WAXMAN, (D) California: There's never been an investigation where the chairman has asserted the kind of power that Chairman Burton has. And there's never been an investigation that's been so plagued by mistakes, raw partisanship, and wrong judgments. What we have is an investigation out of control and without credibility, voting for immunity today, without adopting any changes in the rules on how this committee operates, which has worsened the problem. KWAME HOLMAN: Waxman urged Republicans to take back the broad decision-making powers given to Burton at the start of the investigation. REP. JOHN MICA, (R) Florida: It's not his investigation. It's our investigation. Bring the power back to the committee members. And, secondly, another senior Republican member of this committee should be appointed to head this investigation. KWAME HOLMAN: Waxman tried to get a vote on his proposals, but Chairman Burton wouldn't entertain the motion. REP. DAN BURTON: The gentleman was recognized for an opening statement only, and the chair will not recognize the gentleman for the purpose of the amendment he proposes. KWAME HOLMAN: It's very unlikely Waxman's proposals would have succeeded since member after member of the committee's Republican majority came to Burton's defense. REP. JOHN MICA: Every member of Congress should be personally offended by the undeserved sliming of the chairman of this committee and other committee members. Fortunately, Mr. Chairman, history, facts, and our judicial system will prevail…."
5/13/98 Chris Roseborough The Voice of a Few Americans "… On Tuesday Congressman Burton revealed that 90 witnesses that are sought for questioning in Clinton's campaign finance investigation have either fled the country or pleaded the fifth. Waxman fired back at Burton that evening on the Newshour with Jim Lehrer by emphatically stating "That's a number he's just made up. It's not that many." When questioned concerning Waxman's statement, John Williams, press secretary for Congressman Burton pointed out "that a list of the names of all 90 witnesses has been available on the House's web-site for some time." (http://www.house.gov/reform/oversight/finance/fled.htm) An unnamed spokesman for Congressman Waxman when asked if Mr. Waxman was ready to rescind his statement in light of the published list, contended that "some of the names were made up by the Republicans." When asked which names were "made-up" he said that information is still forth-coming…."
12/7/98 http://www.nandotimes.com -- Linda Seebach is an editorial writer for the Denver Rocky Mountain News "…The contention of the report is that the conversion of official White House records to the use of the DNC may constitute the theft of government property, as may the time of government employees and the use of government property such as computer time and storage. The committee cites the similar case of one Peter Collins, who was convicted of using government office supplies to support the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancing Association. Any administration collects information that would be of enormous value to party fund raising, from White House guest lists to mailing lists for holiday cards. But the principle has been that it can't be distributed in that way. Early on, that was the Clinton administration's position too. Cheryl Mills, then associate counsel to the president, wrote in a memo dated Jan. 17, 1994, "Once White House employees integrate information provided by any source into the database system, it becomes government property . . . (and) may be provided to a source outside the federal government only for authorized purposes."….. It didn't take long for the White House to come around to the DNC's way of thinking. A June 28, 1994, memo from Marsha Scott, a staff member in the White House Office of Political Affairs, to Harold Ickes and Bruce Lindsey (with a copy to Hillary Rodham Clinton) describes a new White House Database (WhoDB) to be integrated with the campaign. "By the first of the year (1995) we should have any flaws identified and corrected and the majority of the White House using the system. We will then have a year (until 1996) to fully train and familiarize our folks to its many possibilities and uses," she wrote…."
12/8/98 TPDL 1998-Dec-8, syndicated by Nando Media and Scripps Howard, by Linda Seebach McIntosh Report Startles Congress "…A House subcommittee has issued a report on its probe of allegedly illegal use of the White House Big Brother computer. Will it be a linchpin in any Clinton impeachment? It reads like a prosecutorial memorandum. And like any good crime drama, the narrative carries a punch that knocks the wind out of you. But judge for yourself the opening chapter in the case of the mysterious White House Office Data Base, or WHODB.
"The story of the White House Database is one about a White House that disregarded the difference between the official business of the United States government and the political business of reelecting the president. Because the line between official business and campaigning was obliterated, this president and his White House subordinates proceeded to spend at least $1.7 million of government funds on a complex, centralized computer system known as the White House [Office] Database, or 'WHODB.' It was used not just for official purposes; senior White House staff planned and, in fact, used it to advance the campaign fundraising objectives of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). This conversion of government property to the use of the DNC constitutes a theft of government property under 18 U.S.CV. [sec] 641…..So begins the exhaustively detailed 93-page summary report of a two-year probe by Rep. David McIntosh, an Indiana Republican and chairman of the House Government Reform and Oversight subcommittee on National Economic Growth, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs. The panel's findings, released Oct. 12, wrapped up a probe that began after Insight published an investigative exposé, beginning in July 1996, on a then-secret taxpayer-funded computer system at the White House alleged to have been misused for political and campaign purposes…..In fact, McIntosh's subcommittee already has sent to Attorney General Janet Reno referrals involving potential perjury and obstruction of justice against a senior White House lawyer (see news alert!, Oct. 19) and possibly other administration aides……
Here's why. Beginning with the second paragraph [page 54], the McIntosh report states: "The committee believes that the president's involvement in the conversion of the White House into a fundraising tool represents an abuse of power. The president is entrusted with the conservation of the White House as a national landmark. The scheme to transfer data from the White House Database and other data sources supported the overall objective of using White House invitations to accomplish political fundraising goals." In yet stronger language, the majority report concludes that "the president and the first lady were involved in the unlawful conversion of government property to the use of the DNC and the Clinton/Gore campaign."….
McIntosh, who has been castigated by Rep. Henry Waxman of California, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee (see sidebar below), offers no reason why the press has shunned his panel's careful work. Rather than complain, McIntosh and his small staff have assembled a powerful case narrative that they believe shows a reckless pattern of misappropriation of public funds, perjury, obstruction of justice and a conspiracy both to misuse the taxpayer- funded computer system and to mislead investigators -- all of this to protect the White House and the president…..
In his minority report on the White House Office Database, Rep. Henry Waxman, a California Democrat and the ranking member of the McIntosh subcommittee, strongly disagrees that the White House either misused the WHODB system, caused government property to be stolen or otherwise engaged in a theft of such property. Moreover, Waxman strenuously argues in a letter to Attorney General Janet Reno that she should disregard criminal referrals from the panel involving Cheryl Mills, a deputy counsel to the president whom McIntosh believes committed perjury and obstruction.
In the opening paragraph of his 20-page executive summary, Waxman and the Democrats state the minority position as follows: "The majority report accuses the president, the first lady, senior White House staff, and DNC employees of theft of government property. These conclusions are extraordinary. Simply put, the record does not support an allegation of theft. It is not theft to remove duplicate addresses from the president's holiday card list so that recipients do not receive duplicate cards. It is not theft to answer an inquiry as to whether an individual has attended an event at the White House. Yet, at bottom, this is the type of evidence the majority cites as support for its conclusions."
1998 American Civil Liberties Union reports Henry Waxman voted with them 86% of the time.
New York Times 5/11/99 "....Recounting a tale of intrigue with mysterious meetings at smoky restaurants, hotel lounges and karaoke bars in Hong Kong, the fund-raiser, Johnny Chung, provided his first public account of his experiences, from 1994 to 1996, as he traveled the Far East prospecting for business clients eager for access to the Clinton Administration..... It was the Democrats from Chung's party who turned on Chung, bitterly denouncing him as an untrustworthy witness. "You've had your 15 minutes, Mr. Chung," said Representative Tom Lantos, Democrat of California. "You are a very minor, insignificant puppet of the Communist regime." Representative Henry Waxman, Democrat of California, accused Chung of providing the authorities with misleading accounts of his dealings with Hazel O'Leary, the former Energy Secretary, and Margaret Williams, a former White House aide, who were investigated before they were cleared of wrongdoing. Chung said that after investigators focused on him, he was offered money to keep him from cooperating with Federal authorities and was introduced to a Los Angeles lawyer, David E. Brockway, who Chung said would help him if he kept his silence. But after Tuesday's hearing, the lawyer denied Chung's account. "He's a huckster and a hustler," Brockway said in a telephone interview. "It's a lie." ..."
The New Australian 5/24/99 Peter Zhang No 120 ".... The regime has a dossier on every American Senator and Congressman. Everyone of them has been politically profiled. Beijing knows which ones will spring to Clinton's defence, even in the present climate. One such man is Democrat Rep. Henry A. Waxman of California. He claimed that there is no evidence that the DNC or Clinton knew certain funds were illegal and originated with Chinese intelligence. Readers will no doubt note that he did not say no one knew, only that no one can prove, at least at this stage, that anyone knew. He has obviously been taking linguistic lessons from your president. I raised Waxman because his political profile predicted his response. He is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America who are committed to implementing the kind of policies that killed millions of Chinese and Russians. To these people capitalism is evil and America is the leading capitalist state. It follows that anything that weakens America is to be welcomed if not actually defended. Beijing's profiles are rarely wrong and that is why they are perfectly happy with the likes of Waxman and Reno. But where does that leave the American people?..."
The Washington Times 8/9/99 Editorial "… Given the extent of the scandal, which included efforts by some of Chung's Chinese friends to divert missile technology from a U.S. corporation desperately eager to do business with China and headed by the Democratic Party's largest individual contributor, Democratic officials have become obsessed with blocking various investigations. Chung has accused Attorney General Janet Reno, who has stubbornly refused to seek the appointment of an independent counsel, of "sitting on the information" he has given her. Chung also has asserted that the Democratic minority on the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee sent his attorney an unsolicited package of materials explaining "how you take the Fifth in the United States Congress" after Chung was subpoenaed to testify. Government Reform and Oversight Committee Chairman Dan Burton, citing a letter addressed to him from Miss Reno but delivered to ranking Democrat Henry Waxman within minutes of a telephone conversation between Miss Reno and Mr. Burton, convincingly argues that Miss Reno had been working in concert with the committee's Democratic minority to thwart its investigation. Mr. Burton also accuses Miss Reno of keeping case after case open to prevent his committee from interrogating witnesses. Jerry Seper of The Washington Times reported this week that Democratic obstructionist actions included telling White House Deputy Counsel Bruce Lindsey to make himself unavailable for a deposition to which the Government Reform and Oversight Committee had subpoenaed him. Mr. Waxman told Mr. Burton that he had advised Mr. Lindsey to be "not available for this deposition." During the deposition of another White House official, the minority counsel raised 49 objections, and in another deposition Democrats sought to prevent a witness from answering questions from the majority counsel despite the witness' willingness to do so. In another deposition, Mr. Waxman attempted to prevent questions about convicted felon Webster Hubbell, the former associate attorney general who received $200,000 in consulting fees from Lippo Group, the Indonesia-based conglomerate that was the source of nearly $500,000 in illegal contributions from the Wiriadinata family…."
THE WASHINGTON TIMES 8/16/99 Joyce Howard Price "…A senior Democratic aide to the House Committee on Government Reform denies Democrats tried to influence former fund-raiser Johnny Chung to plead the Fifth Amendment in his testimony before that panel in 1997…. Mr. O'Reilly said yesterday the "Democratic response" to Chung's charges "goes on to say that, 'Yes, we did send him the information, but they asked us to send it.' " But if that were the case, Mr. O'Reilly said, why didn't the Democrats alert Rep. Dan Burton, Indiana Republican and the committee's chairman, that they had done this? Mr. Burton doesn't buy the Democrats' explanation. In a tape also shown yesterday on "Fox News Sunday," he said, "If Mr. Chung's allegations are true, this is one of the most outrageous and partisan actions by a member of Congress and staff that I have ever seen. "To think that a member would encourage a witness to obstruct the investigation is unfathomable. We need to get to the bottom of this," the chairman said. In the Fox interview, Chung described the material sent to his attorney's office this way: "It said how you can plead, how you can take the Fifth in the United States Congress." ….And while committee Democrats insist they were not trying to keep Chung from testifying, Chung tells a different story in the interview, Mr. O'Reilly said. "Chung's saying flat-out: The Democrats, Henry Waxman, did not want me to talk," the Fox show's host added. Mr. Waxman of California is the ranking Democrat on the Government Reform Committee. Chung visited the White House 57 times and gave $366,000 to Democrats between 1994 and 1996. Twenty of those visits came after a White House national security official described him as a "hustler" trying to turn high-level government contacts into business opportunities…..Chung's cooperation with both the Burton committee and the Justice Department's campaign-finance task force was monitored by Chinese intelligence officials…."
Judicial Watch 8/16/99 Larry Klayman "…Following appearances before Judicial Watch and the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, Johnny Chung is slated to give an interview this evening on Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor (8:00 p.m. Eastern) in which he will finger Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman in an apparent scheme to obstruct justice. Following The O'Reilly Factor, Judicial Watch Chairman Larry Klayman will appear on Hannity and Colmes (9:00 pm Eastern) with video of John Huang and Johnny Chung's sworn deposition testimony showing additional occurrences of obstruction of justice, this time by President Clinton and his Justice Department. "Based on all of the available evidence, it appears there is a widespread conspiracy orchestrated by the Clinton Administration to prevent justice in the Chinagate scandals," said Klayman…."
Washington Times 8/18/99 Jerry Seper "…Democrats on the House Government Reform Committee sought for two years to delay and obstruct the panel's campaign-finance investigation, even telling a top White House aide to make himself unavailable for a deposition to which he had been subpoenaed, according to congressional records. The documents, reviewed in the wake of accusations this week by former Democratic fund-raiser Johnny Chung that he was coached on how to plead the Fifth Amendment before a 1997 appearance before the committee, outline a suspected plan by Democrats to block the committee's ongoing probe. Republicans have begun an investigation to determine what role Democrats played in trying to protect the White House against accusations of campaign-finance abuses….."The Democratic minority counsel has acted as defense attorneys for a whole list of would-be witnesses, trying to scare them into not testifying," said the committee's spokesman, Mark Corallo. "They didn't have to come right out and blatantly tell the witnesses not to testify, but they certainly set a tone of fear and intimidation. "They made no effort to find out the truth of whether campaign-finance abuses during the 1996 election compromised our national-security system," he said…..But Republicans said yesterday that committee records, including depositions of key witnesses and numerous letters written concerning the panel's inquiry, document GOP concerns that committee Democrats and their attorneys sought to delay the depositions, intimidate would-be witnesses and obstruct the investigation. They said the committee's ranking Democrat, Rep. Henry A. Waxman of California, wrote in an April 3, 1998, letter to committee Chairman Dan Burton, Indiana Republican, that he was "disappointed" the deposition of White House Deputy Counsel Bruce Lindsey -- a key figure in the campaign-finance probe -- had been scheduled during the spring recess. Mr. Waxman told the chairman that he had advised Mr. Lindsey to "not be available for this deposition" -- a suggestion roundly criticized by Republicans as an example of what they said were delaying tactics utilized by Democrats throughout the probe….."
Washington Times 8/18/99 Jerry Seper "…The committee records, copies of which were obtained by The Washington Times, show that: … - During the deposition of one White House official, minority counsel raised objections on 49 occasions, and that during another deposition, the Democrats sought to prevent a witness from answering questions by the majority counsel despite the witnesses' willingness to do so. -At some depositions, objections were raised directly by Mr. Waxman and Rep. Tom Lantos, California Democrat, both of whom challenged with some regularity the validity of questions asked by the majority counsel. During the deposition of one White House aide, Republicans said Mr. Waxman tried to prevent questions concerning former Justice Department official Webster L. Hubbell, a longtime friend of President and Mrs. Clinton. -Democrats sought to block committee efforts to subpoena records from state Democratic Party organizations, through which suspected illegal campaign funds had been funneled. Mr. Waxman argued there was no evidence of wrongdoing. Investigators later discovered that illegal donations had been routed to the state organizations….."
Judicial Watch 8/18/99 Larry Klayman "…Today, Judicial Watch will file a complaint before the House Ethics Committee, alleging, based on information disclosed by Johnny Chung, and expanded upon by The Washington Times, that Democrats, led by Congressman Henry Waxman of California, have obstructed Congressional investigations into Chinagate. Based on recent reports, Congressman Waxman also may be linked to a scheme to use the Internal Revenue Service to audit, harass and harm critics of the Clinton Adminisration. Judicial Watch will also ask the House Ethics Committee to look into this as well. Judicial Watch takes a particular interest in Congressman Waxman because of its California office in San Marino. If Judicial Watch is to represent the interests of Californians and Westerners, as well as all Americans, it cannot turn a blind eye to the conduct of Congressman Waxman and his friends…."
Judicial Watch 8/18/99 Tom Fitton Letter to Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, US House of Representatives "… Re: Complaint Against Congressman Henry Waxman and Involved Democrats on the House Government Reform Committee. Dear Committee:
On behalf of the American people and in the public interest, we hereby file a complaint against Congressman Henry Waxman of the 29th District of California. Judicial Watch is a public interest group dedicated to fighting government corruption.
In recent days there have been press reports on the Fox News Channel and in the Washington Times that Congressman Waxman and Democrats on the House Government Reform Committee have attempted to impede the free flow of testimony of a material witness, Johnny Chung, in the campaign finance/Chinagate scandals. Attached hereto as Exhibit 1, and incorporated by reference are the transcripts, a video clip, and press reports of these allegations.
Furthermore, recent press reports have suggested that Congressman Waxman may be one of the individuals, including, but not limited to, officials of the Democratic Party and the Clinton Administration, who have engaged in a scheme to use the Internal Revenue Service to audit, harass and harm critics of the Clinton Administration. Attached hereto as Exhibit 2, and incorporated by reference are press reports of these allegations.
If true, these reports on the campaign finance/Chinagate and IRS scandals would mean that Congressman Waxman has violated laws and rules that include, but are not limited to: 18 U.S.C.§§ 1505, 1502; House Rule XXIV, Code of Official Conduct, no.1; and The Code of Ethics for Government Employment, nos. 1, 2, 9 & 10. We therefore demand a full investigation on behalf of the American people.
In light of the fact that Chairman Dan Burton of the Government Reform Committee has continuously complained about Democrat obstruction of his investigation into the campaign finance/Chinagate scandals, and given his remarks yesterday evening on The O’Reilly Factor on Fox News (enclosed as part of Exhibit 1), it is clear that he should certify that he believes this information is submitted in good faith and warrants the review and consideration of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
Judicial Watch, Inc., certifies that it has provided an exact copy of this complaint and all attachments to Congressman Waxman and Chairman Burton.
Sincerely, JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. Larry Klayman…"
Original Sources 8/18/99 Mary Mostert "…. If the Democrats on the Committee that was trying to investigate the irregularities of the 1996 Campaign finance contributions to the Clinton-Gore campaign were blatantly blocking the investigation and trying to lead and/or block testimony of a key witness, that is, as O’Reilly bluntly pointed it, not merely a Campaign Finance problem - it’s major government corruption. Bill O’Reilly did an excellent job of trying to get to the bottom of this bombshell of a revelation in both his questions to Johnny Chung and in questions to Philip M. Schiliro, staff director for the Democrats on the Committee. In framing the questions to Schiliro, O’Reilly said: "The Democrats deny trying to impede Chung’s testimony and say that Chung’s attorney, Brian Sun, ASKED for the information about taking the Fifth and so it was sent. Counselor Sun’s office said that was ‘ludicrous.’" He then allowed Schiliro time to reply to "Johnny Chung’s accusation that the Democrats tried to convince him to take the 5th Amendment." …
O'Reilly: To continue now with counselor Philip Schiliro, of the Democratic side- 122 people have either fled or pled (the 5th Amendment) in this Chinese Campaign Finance thing. That’s why it looks so bad, Counselor and I have to tell you as a journalist I’m trying to be fair here. I understand what you are saying and I not calling you a liar, and I’m not saying you are not telling the truth - I don’t know who is telling the truth.
But, I do know that when 122 people either leave the country or refuse to testify, ANY APPEARANCE that the Democrats are helping people not testify is disturbing.
Schiliro: There is absolutely no evidence at all other than Mr. Chung’s statement which is factually incorrect, that Democrats have done that. We haven’t done that. It’s been in our interest to get people to testify to resolve this matter as quickly as possible and we’ve done that. The other point that you should know is that in this investigation Democrats have virtually no influence or power. All the unilateral decisions get to be made by Chairman Burton.
Editor’s Note: No evidence? Schiliro ADMITTED they sent the materials - that makes it the testimony of TWO witnesses that the until now unknown incident of the Democrats having unilateral association with the witnesses they were voting immunity against took place. Schiliro is saying, "So what?" He is not denying it happened.
O'Reilly: Let’s go now to Chairman Dan Burton, Chairman of the House Reform and Oversight Committee. How do you react to Counselor Schiliro? You didn’t know anything about this, right? About the Chung - that the Democrats sent him the stuff about the 5th Amendment. What’s your feeling on it?
Chairman Dan Burton:My feeling is that Mr. Chung had adequate counsel. Mr. Sun is a very fine attorney out on the West Coast and he understands very clearly what Mr. Chung’s 5th Amendment rights were. And for the Minority of my Committee to be sending information, apparently unsolicited, to Mr. Chung and his attorney telling them how to take the 5th Amendment appears to me to be obstructing our investigation. I think that’s totally improper.
O'Reilly: Who do you believe in this? Do you believe the Democrats would be foolish enough to send Chung information about the 5th Amendment without telling you - unsolicited? That seems to be a bad political move.
Chairman Dan Burton:Well, Mr. Chung was doing a lot of contributing to the Democratic National Committee and the President’s Re-election Committee. And, I think they saw him as a Democrat ally, but this Justice Department and Janet Reno I believe has been working in concert with Mr. Waxman to try to keep us from getting witnesses before the Committee. We have to have a two-thirds majority vote to give immunity to a witness to be able to have them testify. We have not been able to get Henry Waxman and the Democrats to work with us except on one occasion and that was after we made some very strong concessions to them.
The fact of the matter is they have worked with the Justice Department to block us every step of the way and I think Johnny Chung is verifying that on your program.
O'Reilly:Do you believe Chung?
Chairman Dan Burton:I do believe him.
O'Reilly:Do you believe what he told us?
Chairman Dan Burton:I do believe him, because this is not the first time that we have had this kind of problem. I was having Louis Freeh, Chuck LaBella and the Chief FBI agent before my Committee. One hour before I was going to have them testify before my Committee, Janet Reno called me and said SHE wanted to testify. I said, "We’re not prepared, Madame Attorney General, to have you testify. If you’d let us know a little earlier, we might have worked that out." When the Committee Meeting started less than an hour later Henry Waxman had a letter from her that was addressed to ME! That I had not even received! And, he read it saying she was really upset because I wouldn’t let her testify. She had to have written that letter in 45 minutes and get it to him, and it was addressed to me.
So, once again, the Justice Department and the Attorney General were working in concert with Mr. Waxman to block our investigation. And that is the modus operandi that has been going on.
O'Reilly:So, basically what you are saying is: Mr. Chung’s statements are correct that federal laws were broken by the President, the Vice-President, the First Lady, and Hazel O’Leary. That there’s a massive cover-up going on and its a situation that is totally out of control right now.
Chairman Dan Burton:Oh, I think it IS out of control. I’ve said for three years now that Janet Reno has been blocking for the President. She was supposed to appoint an independent counsel to investigate Campaign Finance. Chuck LaBella said she should. Louis Freeh, the head of the FBI said she should. The head of the FBI investigative team said she should. And, she didn’t DO it! She’s been blocking for the President.
She has not allowed us to talk to witnesses because she hides behind what she says is Grand Jury or 6E material. And, Johnny Chung is right. She sits on information and keeps the cases open because once the cases are closed I can bring those people before my committee. And I know for a fact that she has kept case after case open so I can’t get to the witnesses.
O'Reilly:Unbelievable! ….Perhaps the most blatant thing that Chung told us last night was that he handed Maggie Williams, Hillary Clinton’s Chief of Staff $50,000 IN THE WHITE HOUSE! She took it, looked in the envelope, and called up the White House mess, made a reservation so Chung and his party could go down and eat, and then the money went to the DNC (Democratic National Committee.)
Now, that’s CLEARLY against the law! You can’t DO that! But I haven’t heard anything about that other than a cursory thing here!
Chairman Dan Burton:Bill, we’ve talked about all these things over the past three YEARS! This is not an isolated case. The President was going to fund-raisers where very few people even spoke English and he knew that they were fund-raisers. And, a lot of those people were not Chinese-Americans. They were Chinese nationals. And, he knew that. He also tried to circumvent the campaign laws by talking about how to get soft money into the campaign when the candidates are not supposed to be involved in that in any way…."
Washington Times 8/19/99 Jerry Seper Audry Hudson "…
HENRY A. WAXMAN (D-CA) Top Contributors
1 Assn of Trial Lawyers of America $10,000
2 National Assn of Letter Carriers $7,500
3 Service Employees International Union $7,000
4 American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees $5,000
4 American Nurses Assn $5,000
4 American Optometric Assn $5,000
4 American Podiatry Assn $5,000
4 KidsPAC $5,000
4 Leadership 98 [Leadership PAC for Vice President Al Gore] $5,000
4 United Auto Workers $5,000
4 United Food & Commercial Workers Union $5,000
12 American Medical Assn $4,000
12 Joseph E Seagram & Sons $4,000
12 National Education Assn $4,000
15 National Assn Retired Federal Employees $3,000
16 American Society of Anesthesiologists $2,500
16 American Veterinary Medical Assn $2,500
18 American Federation of Govt Employees $2,000
18 Investment Co Institute $2,000
18 Laborers Union $2,000
18 National Assn of Realtors $2,000
18 Sempra Energy $2,000
18 Women's Alliance for Israel $2,000
The Washington Times: 8/20/99 "…A former White House official invoked his Fifth Amendment rights 28 times yesterday in refusing to testify during a rancorous House committee hearing on campaign finance abuses during the 1996 presidential election. Mark Middleton, an Arkansas lawyer and longtime confidant of President Clinton, steadfastly refused to answer questions by House Government Reform Committee Republicans on whether he conspired with government officials in China or elsewhere to illegally funnel contributions to the Democratic National Committee or the Clinton-Gore re-election campaign. …The committee's ranking Democrat, Rep. Henry A. Waxman of California, derided Mr. Burton and other Republicans for what he described as a "malicious and misleading hearing." He said Mr. Middleton was called as a witness by the GOP after he said he would refuse to cooperate only so that he could be "punished." …. Meanwhile, Attorney General Janet Reno yesterday denied that the Justice Department was stalling its campaign finance task force probe to block congressional Republicans from conducting their own inquiries. She said it was "certainly not true" that the department has marked some probes as "ongoing" to halt efforts by the GOP to investigate the accusations