| For Immediate Release Dec 19, 2002 |
Contact: Press Office 202-646-5188 |
McConnell, Nickles Both Linked to Chinagate Moneyman John Huang (Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, reported today Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator Don Nickles, both named by the media as possible replacements for Majority Leader Trent Lott, have been linked to John Huang, the accused Chinese spy chiefly known for his illicit funding of Bill Clinton’s presidential campaigns. Huang has taken the Fifth Amendment in questioning regarding monies he reportedly raised for these senators. Senator McConnell was forced to return $2000 in donations from Huang after columnist Bob Novak reported that Judicial Watch showed through court testimony that the contribution was illegal. It was made clear that Lippo Group’s James Riady (another accused Chinese spy and admitted felon) had reimbursed illegally John Huang for his contributions to McConnell. Huang’s contribution was made in 1989, yet McConnell did not return the monies from Huang until 2001. McConnell’s wife, Bush Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, was a friend of Huang’s. During Judicial Watch testimony, Huang revealed that Chao had arranged for campaign contributions from Huang to former Senator Al D’Amato, who was head of the Senate Banking Committee (an important position for banks such as Huang’s then employer, the Lippo Group). “Chinagate was Bill Clinton’s biggest scandal. Yet he has thus far escaped accountability because, in part, Republicans were tainted by it as well. Senator McConnell and Senator Nickles ought to be closely questioned about John Huang, especially if they aspire to leadership positions in the U.S. Senate,” stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman. | |