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Committee to question Justice and FBI officials on Trie probeBy Janet Moore/CNN
September 27, 1999 WASHINGTON -- In an effort to determine what happened to an FBI agent's notes pertaining to the investigation of former Democratic fundraiser Yah Lin "Charlie" Trie, a Senate committee plans to question Department of Justice and FBI officials investigating Trie's alleged abuse of campaign finance laws. "To have 27 pages ripped out that were under a congressional subpoena, and then not taking vigorous steps to find out what happened, is outrageous," said Sen. Fred Thompson, chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. Thompson was referring to testimony by FBI agent Roberta Parker, who testified last week that turned her personal notebooks over to FBI superiors because Thompson's panel and a House committee sought information on a rift between FBI and Justice Department officials over tactics in the probe of illegal fund-raising in President Bill Clinton's re-election campaign When the notes were returned, she said, the 27 pages were missing -- and could only have been torn the spiral-bound book. She and three other FBI officials testified that Justice Department prosecutors impeded their work in the investigation of Trie. Depositions could be taken as early as Tuesday. Trie has been a key figure in the 1996 campaign contributions scandal that involved questionable donations to the Democratic National Committee. Trie, a former Little Rock restaurateur and friend of President Bill Clinton, pleaded guilty in May to two counts involving campaign finance violations and pledged to cooperate with an investigation of campaign fund-raising. In exchange for his guilty pleas, federal prosecutors have dropped indictments pending against him in Washington and Arkansas. He is to be sentenced in November and prosecutors have recommended Trie be given three years' probation. |
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MORE STORIES:Monday, September 27, 1999
• Committee to question Justice and FBI officials on Trie probe • McCain formally kicks off campaign • Male voters: In crisis or in control? • Clinton touts higher-than-expected $115 billion budget surplus • New Medicare reference books on the way • Clinton using hoarse voice to speak for schools, candidate • Tripp sues White House, Pentagon • Some Nebraskans wonder if recall law has gotten out of hand • Hastert says GOP intent not to rob Social Security | ||||||||||||