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| For Immediate Release | |
| Jan 12, 2001 | Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
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Will File Papers in Los Angeles Federal Court and Appear Next Tuesday “Last Minute” Plea Agreement Effort to Get “Sweetheart Deal” During “Friendly” Clinton-Gore Administration (Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest law firm that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, and which uncovered and sparked the Chinagate scandal in its 1995 lawsuit against the corrupt Clinton-Gore Commerce Department, then run by the late Ron Brown, announced today that it will challenge the “last minute” plea agreement of suspected Chinese intelligence operative James Riady and his Chinese intelligence front company, Lippo Group. Judicial Watch stated that Riady/Lippo Group, which had employed suspected Chinese spy John Huang and then had him placed, through President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, in their Commerce Department, are being “let off the hook.” Riady is to receive only 400 hours of community service, even less than John Huang. Nor is Riady being required to serve any jail time. It is well known that John Huang, when working at the Commerce Department, went across the street on a regular basis and faxed documents to Riady/Lippo overseas. During the period that these fax transmissions were occurring, John Huang was receiving regular national security briefings from the CIA. During five depositions taken thus far of John Huang by Judicial Watch, he has invoked the Fifth Amendment nearly 2,500 times and been held in contempt for failure to answer 140 times. Huang refused to answer questions as to whether he passed classified materials to Riady/Lippo and Chinese intelligence. He also refused to respond as to whether or not Hillary Clinton was involved. “This attempted plea agreement, just days before the change in Administrations, is evidence not only of the criminal complicity of the Clinton-Gore Justice Department and its heads, Janet Reno and Eric Holder, but is an outrageous affront to our justice system – furthering the harm done to our national security,” stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman “Judicial Watch will move to block this plea agreement in Los Angeles federal court. The question is: Will the judge assigned have the courage to reject this sham plea agreement?” added Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. |
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