Videotaped Conversation Shown In Corruption Trial Of Former Liu Fundraiser

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The corruption trial continued Thursday for fundraisers attempting to solicit illegal donations for New York City Comptroller John Liu's mayoral campaign.

Liu's name came up for the first time during the trial on Thursday when a videotaped conversation between Xing Wu "Oliver" Pan and an undercover FBI agent was played in court.

As WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported, the undercover agent was posing as a wealthy restaurant owner who wanted to circumvent the campaign laws and donate $16,000, an illegally large amount of cash to the campaign.

Pan is heard on the tape telling the agent how they can use straw donors to divide up the cash, make it look legal and get matching funds in return, Cornell reported.

"He has ambition," Pan is heard saying on the videotape. "He's hoping comptroller is not the end. He could run for mayor, governor, senator."

Pan and Liu's ex-campaign treasurer, Jia "Jenny" Hou, are facing federal charges of conspiring to break campaign finance laws for circumventing the $4,950 contribution limit.

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