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| For Immediate Release | |
| Mar 24, 1998 | Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
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Clinton Administration indictment timed to undermind credibility and throw monkey wrench into testimony of Nolanda Hill Who Swears Commerce Trade Missions Illegally Sold for Clinton Campaign Cash Nolanda Hill, the business partner and girlfriend of late Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, testified in federal court yesterday that Commerce Department taxpayer-finance trade mission seats were sold in return for campaign contributions to Clinton-Gore '96 and the DNC. Hill testified that Ron Brown showed her Commerce Department documents that indicate the trade mission seats were sold for $50,000 minimum contributions. Hill also testified Brown told her that the plan to use taxpayer resource to raise campaign money was the idea of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Hill also implicated President Clinton, Vice President Gore, Labor Secretary Alexis Herman, and a host of other White House, Commerce, and DNC officials in this "street level protection racket." Hill testified in a civil suit filed by Judicial Watch against the Commerce Department over Commerce's refusal to provide documents, as mandated by the Freedom of Information Act, about these trade missions. It was this suit that uncovered John Huang, thus exposing the Clinton fundraising scandal. Hill testified that, in direct contravention of a federal court order issued in response to this suit, former White House chief of staff Leon Pannetta and current deputy chief of staff John Podesta ordered Brown to delay producing the incriminating documents to Judicial Watch until after the 1996 elections. Hill came forward voluntarily to Judicial Watch and filed an affidavit under seal with Judge Royce Lamberth detailing the White House-directed selling of trade mission seats and high level Clinton Administration obstruction of Justice. In this January 28th affidavit Hill said she feared if she came forward, the Clinton administration, "particularly the Justice Department, will try to retaliate against" her. She also feared for her and her family's "well-being and safety." The court took her concerns seriously and kept her affidavit under seal until her testimony yesterday. Hill's fears were well-founded. Hill was indicted by the Clinton Justice Department on March 13, 1998, a little over a week before her court appearance. Larry Klayman, Judicial Watch's general counsel and chairman, accused Bruce Heygi, a lawyer with the U.S. Attorney's Office, of leaking Hill's sealed affidavit to the main Clinton Justice Department. "Not only did Heygi not deny this," said Klayman, "but we have additional documentary evidence that main Justice knew of Hill's sealed affidavit before they indicted her." While making no judgement on the charges contained in the indictment itself, Klayman questioned its timing. "The surprise indictment of Ms. Hill by the Reno Justice Department was a transparent attempt to undermine Hill's credibility and to throw the monkey wrench of 5th Amendment issues into the testimony," Klayman said. After Hill testified, Judge Royce Lamberth thanked her and promised her that he stood "ready and available" to assist her with any problems that her testimony might cause her. "Nolanda Hill is an American hero," asserted Klayman, "She told the truth about Clinton Administration corruption despite her prophetic fears of retaliation by the Clinton Justice Department." |
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