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| For Immediate Release | |
| Apr 16, 1999 | Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
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DEPOSED BY JUDICIAL WATCH IN COMMERCE/CHINAGATE CASE (Washington, April 16) John Huang, former Commerce official and DNC fundraiser, was deposed yesterday in Judicial Watch’s FOIA lawsuit against the Clinton Commerce Department over its sale of taxpayer-financed Commerce trade mission seat for political contributions to the DNC. Judicial Watch first uncovered Huang in October, 1996, deposing him under oath, thus sparking the Chinagate scandal. In his continuing deposition yesterday, Huang asserted the Fifth Amendment privilege on a variety of issues, including whether: Clinton Commerce trade mission seats were sold for political contributions. China used espionage against the United States on a Commerce trade mission there in 1994. He was offered a presidential pardon in exchange for his silence. He took classified information out of the Commerce Department. He was recommended by Hillary Rodham Clinton for appointment to the Commerce Department. Bill and Hillary Clinton approved the transfer of technology related to the 1994 trade mission to China because of political contributions. His life was threatened to keep him silent. If he knew that Ron Brown was planning to cut a deal with the independent counsel investigating him by disclosing his knowledge of the illegal sale of seats on trade missions and the passing of classified information by Huang to the Chinese. He recommended Bernard Schwartz of the Loral Corporation for participation in the 1994 Commerce trade mission to China. Judicial Watch will appeal to the Court Huang’s assertion of the Fifth Amendment privilege, which Judicial Watch believes was waived in light of Huang’s prior voluntary testimony to Judicial Watch on October 29, 1996. The complete transcript of Huang’s deposition thus far will be available on Judicial Watch’s Internet site at www.judicialwatch.org. Huang’s deposition will be reconvened on May 3, 1999. |
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