"FEC Issues Record Fines In Democrats' Scandals"

"Commission Faults Players in 1996 Foreign Fundraising"

From yesterday's Washington Post:

The Federal Election Commission disclosed yesterday it has imposed a record-setting $719,000 in fines against participants in the 1996 Democratic Party fundraising scandals involving contributions from China, Korea and other foreign sources.

The FEC documents describe Democratic fundraisers who set specific prices for foreign nationals to make illegal campaign contributions in return for meetings with then-President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore. A Democratic finance vice chair, for example, said organizers would have to contribute $100,000 in return for Gore's appearance at a Buddhist temple in Los Angeles.

Those penalized included the Democratic National Committee, the Clinton-Gore campaign, the Buddhist temple and nearly two dozen people and corporations acting as conduits for illegal contributions. All have agreed to pay, according to the documents....

This article brings two questions to my mind: (1) Will WaPo let us know if when the fines are actually paid? (2) If this had been a story about the Republican National Committee and the Dole campaign, would it still have appeared on page A05? or on page A01?

(Thanks Jonah.)

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Sun. 09/22/02 12:52:26 PM
Categorized as Classic.