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Democratic donor to plead guilty to illegal contributionsBy Terry Frieden/CNN
January 4, 1999 WASHINGTON (January 4) -- A Florida businessman involved in a scheme to funnel illegal contributions to the 1996 Clinton-Gore re-election campaign will plead guilty in federal court in Washington Tuesday. 
The plea by Juan Ortiz, chief financial officer of Future Tech International (FTI), comes three weeks after the Justice Department announced Ortiz had reached an agreement with federal prosecutors. Government officials say Ortiz will plead guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Paul Friedman to charges of serving as a conduit for illegal contributions and reimbursing eight others who provided similar contributions. Ortiz and eight other FTI employees had been reimbursed by the company for their $1,000 contributions made at a 1995 fund-raising event at a Miami hotel, according to court documents. Officials say the Ortiz agreement is related to the September 30 17-count indictment of Democratic fund-raiser Mark Jimenez, FTI's chief executive officer and Ortiz's boss. Jimenez, who is believed to have fled the United States, is accused of organizing and concealing the conduit scheme. Representatives of the Florida corporation have already entered a guilty plea on behalf of the firm and agreed to pay a $1 million fine. Ortiz is the 15th person charged by the Justice Department's campaign finance task force. Republican critics of Attorney General Janet Reno have repeatedly demanded she appoint an independent counsel to take over the investigation, which remains in the hands of career Justice Department prosecutors. No top Democratic Party or Clinton campaign official has been charged. Reno has indicated she will decide by January 29 whether to seek an independent counsel to investigate former White House deputy chief of staff Harold Ickes, a key figure in the Clinton-Gore campaign. MORE STORIES:Monday January 4, 1999
• Senators remain divided over trial plans • Hastert prepares to assume House speakership • Democratic donor to plead guilty to illegal contributions • Elizabeth Dole resigns Red Cross post, may test presidential waters • Clinton proposes tax credit for long-term care of elderly, disabled • Sen. Smith to announce presidential bid • First lady's mom says Hillary doesn't discuss her marriage • Q & A: An impeachment primer • U.S. Mint distributes new quarters • Ventura becomes Minnesota's governor • Ashcroft may not get in 2000 race |
