Huang took fifth on Chinese money

Human Events, Jan 29, 2001 by Jeffrey, Terence P

In the Judicial Watch deposition, for example, Huang took the 5th when asked if Chinese banks had been the ultimate source for contributions he and his wife made to Al Gore's Senate campaign that had been reimbursed, in the first instance, by James Riady's Lippo Group. Moreover, the plea agreement now proposed for Riady is targeted, on its face, at forcing Riady to reveal the ultimate source of the political funds he funneled into the United States. It assumes, in other words, that Riady may not have been the ultimate source of the funds, and that he will cooperate with prosecutors in proving who was.

When Klayman broached the question of Chinese funding in the Huang deposition, it was as if he were trying to scale the Great Wall itself. First, Assistant U.S. Attorney Marina Brasswell-who represents the federal government in the case-lodged an objection. The judge overruled. Then Huang invoked his privilege. After discussion of the legal issues involved, the judge instructed him to answer. Then Huang's attorney Cobb instructed him not to answer. And, finally, the judge cited Huang for contempt.

Klayman: "Do you know whether or not money from Chinese banks was used to reimburse you, you and Mrs. Huang, on behalf of the Lippo Group?"

Brasswell: "Continuing objection as to scope."

Judge Facciola: "Overruled."

Huang: "I invoke the privilege."

Klayman: "Ask for a ruling on whether he can invoke the privilege."

Judge Facciola: "I am. I'm just thinking for a second. Does this have to do, Mr. Keeney, with the exclusion of national security matters?"

Keeney: "In large part, Your Honor."

Judge Facciola: "Well, and what else?"

Keeney: "As well as the Perkins case."

Judge Facciola: "What statute would make it-what statute pertaining to national security would have to do with the topic of reimbursing people from offshore entities for contributions they make to the United States?"

Keeney: "Hypothetically, anything involving Chinese financial institutions could arguably implicate the economic espionage statute specifically exempted by the government from the plea agreement."

Judge Facciola: "Ms. Brasswell, are you familiar with the economic espionage statute?"

Ms. Braswell: "No, I'm not, Your Honor."

Judge Facciola: "Mr. Klayman, are you?"

Klayman: "No, but I don't understand how that fact, even if I was, Your Honor, could implicate espionage. Certainly even legal transactions can occur through movies being transferred by Chinese banks."

Judge Facciola: "Yes. I am going to oven-le the assertion of the privilege and direct the witness to answer"

Cobb: "And I respectfully instruct him not to do so, Your Honor."

Judge Facciola: "The witness is held in contempt:' In the proposed Riady plea agreement, the government requires Riady "to produce voluntarily any and all documents, records, or other tangible evidence relating to the matters about which the United States inquires, including documents indicating the source and nature of funds used to reimburse campaign contributions."

The agreement also requires Riady to appear in the United States to testify and cooperate with the government whenever the government wishes him to do so.