Huang Ouster 'Typical Layoff,' Says DNC

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Nov. 18) -- The Democratic Party fund-raiser at the center of a imbroglio over overseas donations was fired Sunday in what the Democratic National Committee termed post-election "downsizing."

John Huang, who worked at the Commerce Department before becoming a senior DNC fund-raiser, "was let go as part of our downsizing," DNC spokesperson Amy Weiss Tobe said. "John Huang was let go with the other 26 people from the finance division."

The DNC's staff, which numbered 222 at the end of October, was trimmed by 50 last Friday and will be reduced by another 55 by the end of January, according to Tobe.

Republicans have so far been unsuccessful in their attempts to pressure the Justice Department to appoint an independent counsel to investigate the fund-raising practices of Huang and the DNC. Though another request is still pending, the Justice Department last Tuesday rebuffed Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) request as lacking "specific, credible evidence that any individual covered by the Independent Counsel Act committed any federal crime."

Huang was suddenly suspended from duty in mid-October following news accounts he had solicited five-figure donations from non-U.S. citizens. The DNC, while steadfastly denying any improper motives, has returned several large donations and admitted that not all donations had been properly scrutinized.

Because Huang worked at the Commerce Department, some suspect the Clinton Administration allowed its foreign policy to be influenced by fund-raising concerns. The Commerce Department announced plans last week to investigate Huang's activities.

According to a letter from GOP Rep. Ben Gilman to Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor, Huang's phone records from the Commerce Department show he made at least 70 calls while still at Commerce to his former employer, Lippo Bank in Los Angeles. That calls into question Huang's testimony Oct. 29, in which he swore he had severed all ties with Lippo after joining Commerce. A judge ordered Huang to testify after the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit seeking Commerce Department files.

Huang's logs also show numerous calls to prominent Little Rock associates with extensive Asian business interests, according to Gilman's letter. Gilman told Kantor that a cursory review of phone records "raises troubling questions."

This weekend, in an interview with The New York Times, President Bill Clinton acknowledged he had discussed public policy issues with James Riady, head of the Lippo Group.

One of the largest donations Huang brought in to the DNC was $425,000 from Arief Wiriadinata, who is a wealthy son-in-law of a Riady business partner, and who now lives in Jakarta.

The DNC says Huang raised about $2.5 million from Asian Americans. Since giving his testimony, Huang has avoided press inquiries.

Related Sites:

AllPolitics home page

Huang Ouster 'Typical Layoff,' Says DNC

Related Stories:

Related Sites: