Summary

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee holds hearings on alleged campaign finance irregularities in the 1996 campaign.

Source CONUS Archive
Record ID 258370
Story Slug SENATE HEARING / CAMPAIGN FINANCE (1997)
Location WASHINGTON, DC
Format TVD
Date 7/8/1997
Archive Time :15
TRT 4:57
Supers 1) Senator Fred Thompson / R-TN 2) Senator Susan Collins / R-ME 3) Senator John Glenn / D-OH
Description The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee holds hearings on alleged campaign finance irregularities in the 1996 campaign.
Script (SUGGESTED TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO) Unknown Speaker 00:00 Race and state elections as well. The government of China is believed to have allocated substantial sums of money to achieve its objectives. Another aspect of the Pintu one of the most troublesome areas of this investigation, I speak of allegations concerning a plan hatched during the last election cycle by the Chinese government and designed to pour illegal money into American political campaigns. The plan had a goal to buy access and influence in furtherance of Chinese government interests. By the very nature of the topic, I must I should have said as a country are things that are going to be of grave concern to all of us. So this committee is presented with a unique opportunity. We can conduct a good thorough investigation, assess responsibilities, where appropriate, and make recommendations as to how we can improve our system in the future. We can conduct these hearings without a lot of partisan bickering. A lot of people say let the chips fall where they may we can say it and actually mean it. Unless we have accountability for the past, and we cannot allow calls for campaign finance reform to act as a shield to keep from thoroughly examining those who may have broken our existing laws. Otherwise, calls for reform will be viewed simply as partisan. And the cause of campaign finance reform will be hurt and not enhanced. Now these are available to us, who will give truthful statements about what they know. And if anyone should unlawfully impede or misinform this committee, there are criminal sanctions available. Now valuable information can be obtained in various ways. It seems that due to the fact that these hearings, we're about to start that the White House is decided to release certain information before the committee had a chance to in other words to preempt us. Since this is information that the American people I believe, has been entitled to for a long, long time. I welcome this preemption. Now I can only assume that this investigation goes forward they will have the opportunity to preempt as many times in the future. Unknown Speaker 02:17 ACC of concern for the source of contributions. accepting money from a Buddhist temple flies in the face of a prohibition against political contributions from religious groups. accepting money from an impoverished Indian tribe exploit those who are dependent on the federal government and accepting money from suspected criminals suggest that money talks regardless of what it has to say. For some, it seems Whitehouse and others under scrutiny must be much more forthcoming. The president cannot credibly preach the gospel of campaign finance reform, unless his aides and supporters are prepared to let the light of day shine on their activities during the 1996. campaign. Unknown Speaker 03:10 The public all the facts be presented to the American people on a bipartisan basis. The issues surrounding our national security and the issues surrounding campaign finance reform, override partisan concerns. We've arrived at a point where we can reshape the political landscape, and we can redefine the political process. I hope that all of us will have this false statement to investigators if he did not tell the truth. I can now report that Mr. Wong has agreed through his counsel to testify without with a limited immunity relating to any criminal charges, that could result the limited immunity would not apply to the criminal charges ever to testify without immunity relating to criminal charges that could result if he committed espionage or even second phase, Unknown Speaker 04:01 which will address the broader issues concerning our electoral process including the role of soft money and the role of independent groups. Now while most do Unknown Speaker 04:12 act as the people by the people in for the people is based on that greatest of all political documents, the Constitution and promises for our people the greatest freedom, the greatest protections, Unknown Speaker 04:24 seems clear based on the allegations that have appeared in the press is that we are here today largely because of an ethical Indonesia, Taiwan. Unknown Speaker 04:38 Come to order please, people sorry.
Not everything listed in the CONUS Archive is necessarily licensable. Reporter sound/image is not licensable
}