Senator Fred Thompson Waves the Red Flag
by Jeff Koopersmith

Wednesday, July 9th, 1997 -- New York (APJP) -- Senator Fred Thompson did not disappoint yesterday morning as he opened the political fundraising scandal hearings with a scandal of his own.

Thompson actually claimed that China, through its "highest officials," engaged in a plot to influence American elections through campaign contributions and told the audience that the FBI may have provided the "proof." Later, Senator John Glenn (D-OH) rolled his eyes as Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) ran the same line by Jim Lehrer on PBS's News Hour.

I'd guess it's only a matter of time before Thompson's story begins to unravel as some checking has revealed that Thompson went off half-cocked in order to rescue what promised to be a snoring month of telling American voters what they already know. It's hard to imagine Beijing mucky-mucks sitting around plotting the "takeover" of Congress by funneling a couple of million dollars through John Huang and Yah Lin "Charlie" Trie. It's even harder to imagine the Chinese spending money in State elections, as was related yesterday by another Republican member of the Thompson Committee. State elections? Do we really think the People's Republic of China is that stupid? After all, they could spend $100 million a year in Washington at their embassy influencing Congress "socially" -- as do most all nations on earth, at least the ones that can afford it.

Thompson also looked foolish in another way: after he let loose the "Beijing Bomb" he went on to pose as Moses in a plea for non-partisan conduct by the Committee. Following this, he allowed all Committee members to launch salvos of innuendo, conspiracy charges, threats of indictment, and more -- against everyone from Al Gore to Haley Barbour, former Chairman of the Republican National Committee. If Thompson was upset at this conduct he didn't show it. Now he either looks like a hypocrite or an "innocent conspirator."

The good news is that the hearings promise to be more interesting than boring. Senator Glenn had his own news. He announced that "very last minute" negotiations with John Huang resulted in Huang's agreeing to testify -- with limited immunity. Now I must admit I have a soft spot for Glenn, but his explanation of "limited immunity" was nearly impossible to understand. It appears that Huang is worried he could be indicted for violations of FEC rules and Hatch Act provisions. Glenn claims that's the only immunity he seeks. But after listening to the partisan shots taken yesterday I imagine Huang's lawyers will ask for total immunity in exchange for Huang's guest shot. The Committee met in "executive session" to consider the Huang offer. This was a low point in that it's unusually silly to announce something this big and then to retreat in secret to consider it. Thompson most likely feared that the public would get too big a dose of Senatorial reality as both sides argued whether to give Huang the immunity he seeks.

The latest news is that the committee did meet and it was finally agreed to send attorneys to attorneys to work out a written deal which they would then consider.

Here's my advice to Huang. Agree to testify, But when the first question comes answer it by reading the corporate PAC contributions accepted by each Senator during the last election cycle. In the case of Thompson that will be over 900 PACS.

I'd pay $5 to see that.

[For a list of Thompson's PAC contributions, click HERE]