House Panel Grills Charlie Trie

In hearings Wednesday, critics of the fundraising practices of the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign rejected claims by Democratic money man Yah Lin "Charlie" Trie that party officials were kept in the dark about foreign contributions.

House Government Reform and Oversight Committee chairman Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind, released copies of a letter from the Democratic National Committee's Business Leadership Forum to a colonel in the Chinese military in Beijing.

The forum faxed a draft of the letter to Trie. Trie's assistant sent back suggested changes, noting that the colonel, a woman identified in the letter as a board member of a government-owned company, was having difficulty obtaining a visa.

``It's really tough when your big contributors can't get a visa to enter the country," said Burton. The draft of the letter thanked the woman for her interest and said that since she was joining the group, ``we strongly urge that you attend'' one of two fund-raising events with President Clinton or Vice President Al Gore.

Trie's appearance- his first - has long been sought by Burton, who spearheaded the House investigation into allegations of fund-raising abuses by the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign.

In his written testimony, Trie described how he parlayed his long-standing acquaintance with Mr. Clinton into overseas business contacts that brought hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions into the United States. Trie did not read the statement to the committee because he speaks English poorly.

Under questioning, Trie said suggestions that he engaged in espionage for China is ``the biggest joke'' because he was raised in Taiwan, where ``China is the enemy.''

Trie denied ever being approached about spying for China, saying he would be one of the last people someone would try to recruit because ``I don't look that smart.''

"I have never committed any form of espionage," he said.

Trie brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal donations when he became partners with wealthy Macau businessmen such as Ng Lap Seng, also known as Woo, and Jakarta telecommunications magnate Winata.

Burton focused on Trie's admissions that Winata gave Trie more than $350,000, much of it winding up as campaign donations to the Democratic Party. Trie said he spent the rest and didn't report it on his tax returns.

Trie testified that at one point he was offered $50 million by Winata, but turned it down because ``I didn't think I deserved it.'' He did not elaborate.

When Clinton friend Richard Mays told Trie that a $100,000 contribution to a fund-raiser would get him two seats at the president's table and another entire table for several guests, "Woo either wire transferred or brought the money to the U.S.," said an FBI interview summary of Trie released by Burton's committee a month ago.

"It occurred to Trie that people at the DNC might start to wonder where he wagetting his money. Knowing it was not his money, Trie felt uncomfortable," the FBI summary said. "He started giving friends cash in return for their checks to the DNC."

Alternately defiant and contrite, Trie in his prepared remarks said that "at no time...did I want or attempt to obtain anything improper for the interests of others." He and his business associates "just wanted to go to events with important people and to get the opportunity to have our pictures taken with the president of the United States."

Trie described his role in bringing a Chinese arms dealer to a White House coffee, saying Trie's business partner at the time "was...excited about the prospect of doing business" in areas other than arms.

Trie led off his testimony by saying he is sorry for the trouble he caused longtime friend Clinton.

"I...would like to apologize for any harm I caused President Clinton," the former Little Rock, Ark., restaurant owner told the House Government Reform Committee. "Let me say...that all of my mistakes were of my own doing and not encouraged by President Clinton or anyone else."

Trie is serving a four-month home detention sentence after pleading guilty to violating campaign finance laws.

By Pete Yost
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