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| For Immediate Release | |
| Apr 26, 1999 | Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
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Chinagate Figure Participated in Commerce Department Trade Trips Court Denies Justice Department Opposition To Deposition (Washington, April 26) An United States Magistrate Judge today authorized the deposition of Johnny Chung by Judicial Watch in its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Clinton Commerce Department relating to the sale of taxpayer-financed trade missions seats in exchange for campaign contributions to the DNC and Clinton-Gore campaigns. In his ruling, Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola wrote: "...I believe that inquiry into the activities of persons who donated funds to the DNC and attended trade missions is likely to reveal evidence that is reasonably calculated to lead to admissible evidence. Such evidence might provide a powerful motive for the Department of Commerce to remove or destroy documents subject to plaintiff’s FOIA request." Mr. Chung participated in the Commerce Department trade mission to China in 1994 shortly after donating $11,000 to the Democratic Party, according to testimony in the Judicial Watch lawsuit and a published report in The Washington Post. A copy of the Court order is enclosed and is on Judicial Watch’s Internet site (www.judicialwatch.org). The tentative date for Chung’s deposition is currently Tuesday, April 27, 1999. |
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