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 For Immediate Release
Jul 22, 1997 Contact: Press Office
202-646-5172


HUANG WAS NOT "WALLED OFF"

RECENT JUDICIAL WATCH DEPOSITION UNCOVERS A VERY DIFFERENT STORY THAN WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED AT THE SENATE HEARINGS


As the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee votes today on immunity for witnesses and begins focusing on other matters beside the Clinton Administration's fund-raising scandal, Judicial Watch has once again uncovered information that contradicts the testimony of a Clinton Administration witnesses. Former Assistant Secretary and Director General of United States Foreign and Commercial Service, Ms. Lauri Fitz-Pegado, testified under oath at Judicial Watch headquarters on Friday July 18, 1997 that the notorious fundraiser John Huang was not walled off or restricted while at the Commerce Department.

This sworn testimony directly contradicts last week's Senate witness Jeffrey Garten. Garten, the former number three man at Commerce and Undersecretary for International Trade stated that Huang was "walled off" from any discussions about any sensitive Commerce Department matters and emphatically stated that "it is not possible" that Huang did any tasks besides administrative ones. Yet, Ms. Fitz-Pegado, a top aide to Garten, testified that she knew of no such instructions and did not observe, either in writing or in action, any attempts to limit Mr. Huang.

Ms. Fitz-Pegado also testified that she has had a private lunch with Mr. Charlie Trie in Hong Kong and attended his birthday party at the Watergate. Ms. Fitz-Pegado was among Ron Brown's closest confidantes at Commerce as well as a 'personal adviser.' She helped Brown lobby for Haitian dictator "Baby Doc" Duvalier while Brown was a partner at Patton, Boggs, and Blow. She even counseled Brown on the Vietnam bribery investigation and his Senate confirmation hearing for Secretary of Commerce.

Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman stated: "Ms. Fitz-Pegado, a presidential appointee, was a key player in the Clinton Commerce Department. Her testimony must be given great weight."

Ms. Fitz-Pegado's deposition is just one of the thirty five public depositions which Judicial Watch has taken in its three-year effort to uncover the truth of the illegal fundraising activities that occurred at Clinton's Commerce Department. These public depositions, which include the only sworn testimony ever given on these matters by John Huang, are available to any member of the press, any member of Congress, or for use in the ongoing Congressional investigations. For more information, contact Judicial Watch.

Mr. Klayman is also providing legal commentary on the Senate Hearings for National Empowerment Television (NET).


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