Senate joins Russia inquiry

0 Comments | USA TODAY, September, 1999 | by Jack Kelley

WASHINGTON -- Congressional efforts to investigate the growing Russian money laundering scandal intensified Monday as a House committee decided to extend its planned two-day hearing into the fall and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee agreed to hold its own inquiry.

"It's vital we get down to the bottom of this," Senate Foreign Relations Committee spokesman Mark Thiessen said Monday night. "We've been pouring billions and billions into Russia and subsidizing a corrupt oligarchy of former Communist officials."

The Senate panel, which is chaired by Jesse Helms, R-N.C., plans to hold its hearings Sept. 23 and Sept. 30.

The extended House Banking Committee hearings, which begin Sept. 21, will focus on Russian corruption, money laundering and possible misuse...