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Lawmaker: Did Huang Put Lives At Risk?

Rep. Solomon presses White House for details

By Bob Franken/CNN

WASHINGTON (July 1) -- In a letter to President Bill Clinton, House Rules Committee Chairman Gerald Solomon (R-N.Y.) has raised the possibility that former Democratic fund-raiser John Huang, the central figure in the campaign fund-raising controversy, received top security briefings that could have jeopardized the life of a CIA informant.

CNN has obtained a copy of the letter, in which Solomon stated Huang had "received three intelligence reports from the CIA that the official cautioned 'unauthorized release of those could result in the death of a source.'"

Solomon wrote the president asking for his cooperation following a deposition from "a senior official at the Central Intelligence Agency." While his letter did not say so, the unidentified "senior official" was deposed as part of the ongoing lawsuit by Judicial Watch, which is seeking information on Democratic fund-raising and Huang's role in that.

Huang raised millions of dollars in campaign funds for the Democratic National Committee, following his tenure at the Commerce Department during which he regularly received classified briefings. His association with Clinton began in Arkansas when his former employer, the Lippo Group, headquartered in Indonesia, explored business opportunities in the state while Clinton was governor.

Solomon went on to say to the president that "your political appointee and friend John Huang ... is already under investigation for economic espionage ... it is critical to quickly identify Mr. Huang's actions that compromised our national security."

"Even the hint that the lives of individuals who trusted our government have been put at risk moves the quest for truth to the highest level," Solomon wrote, requesting that Clinton identify those familiar with Huang's actions so that congressional investigators can interview them.

White House spokesman Lanny Davis declined to comment.