In this extraordinary case, Judicial Watch uncovered important evidence of political corruption at the U.S. Department of Commerce under President William Jefferson Clinton. When Judicial Watch suspected that seats on Commerce Department trade missions were being sold in exchange for campaign contributions to the Democratic National Committee, Judicial Watch requested access to records about the trade mission under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. When the Commerce Department failed to respond to Judicial Watch’s request, then demanded it pay $13,000 to obtain the records, Judicial Watch filed suit.
During the course of discovery, Judicial Watch uncovered compelling evidence demonstrating that Clinton Administration officials not only sold seats on Commerce Department trade missions in exchange for campaign contributions, but also deliberately concealed and destroyed records regarding the trade missions to avoid releasing them to Judicial Watch. So egregious was the misconduct uncovered by Judicial Watch that the Commerce Department took the unprecedented step of asking that a judgment be entered against itself in order to end the lawsuit prematurely and stop further embarrassing revelations. The court denied the Commerce Department’s request, ordered it to conduct a new search for trade mission records, and authorized additional discovery into the concealing and destruction of the records.
Among the more than 70 witnesses deposed by Judicial Watch during the course of this lawsuit were John Huang, a Democratic National Committee fundraiser and Commerce Department official who subsequently pled guilty to violations of federal campaign finance laws, and former Secretary of Commerce Mickey Kantor.
At the end of the case, Judicial Watch was awarded nearly $900,000 in attorneys fees and costs after a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. upheld the vast majority of an orginal court award to Judicial Watch.
The case demonstrates Judicial Watch’s remarkable success in aggressively pursuing government corruption and promoting integrity and transparency in government.
Court Documents
Stipulation of Settlement(June 22, 2007) – Stipulation by U.S. Department of Commerce and Judicial Watch that Department of Commerce shall pay $842,500 to Judicial Watch to settle case.
Order (July 6, 2007) – Court order that U.S. Department of Commerce shall pay $842,500 to Judicial Watch to settle case.
Memorandum - In this Freedom of Information Act case seeking documents from the Department of commerce, by Order dated April 9, 1999, the Court ordered the deposition of former Department of Commerce employee John Huang to continue on April 13, 1999...
Letter regarding DOC neglect to comply with FOIA order to turn over evidence, 10/07/97. - In Freedom of Information Act ('FOIA") requests filed at the Clinton Department of Commerce by Judicial Watch, Inc., on September 12, 13, and October 19, 1994, we requested, among other things, "all . . . tape recordings . . .." that or related in any way to the matters and events enumerated in the subject FOIA requests...
Memorandum of Law - Plaintiff, Judicial Watch, Inc., by counsel, respectfully submits this memorandum of points and authorities regarding non-party witness John Huang's attempted invocation of the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination at the continuation of his deposition on Tuesday, April 13, 1999.
ORDER - (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) Upon consideration of nonparty John Huang's motion to reconsider, filed January 7, 1999, the opposition thereto, the reply, and the record in this case, and for the reasons set forth in the memorandum opinion issued this date, it is hereby...
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER - After four years, this case finally offers a light at the end of the tunnel. Currently before the Court is the apparently unprecedented situation in which the defendant Department of Commerce (DOC) has moved for entry of judgment against itself; the plaintiff, Judicial Watch, has vehemently opposed the motion. Unfortunately, this odd posture is not atypical of the extreme positions taken by the litigants in this case. After much deliberation and a thorough review of the extraordinary record in this case, the Court will deny the DOC's motion for entry of judgment, grant partial summary judgment...
Memorandum - (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) Non-Party Deponent's Memorandum un Support of Assertion of the Fifth Amendment Privilege Against Self-Incrimination
RealVideo Clips of Fox News Special: "John Huang: In his own words" - Selected clips from the Fox special program, featuring Larry Klayman and several clips from John Huangs deposition (aired Oct. 24, 1997). Huang will again be deposed by Judicial Watch in mid-April 1999.
Order Granting Deposition of Johnny Chung - Upon consideration of Plantiff's Motion for Leave to Depose Johnny Chung [#485], defendant's opposition thereto, and the entire record herein, it is hereby
