ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 145
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED MARCH 20, 1997
By Assemblymen DeCROCE, BODINE and Geist
An Assembly Resolution urging U.S. Attorney General to conduct a preliminary investigation into various fundraising improprieties in the recent federal election campaign and, if that investigation so warrants, to apply for appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate fully those improprieties.
Whereas, Recent press reports have raised substantial and troubling questions as to whether foreign money and foreign influence have infiltrated the American political process through the medium of money from external sources that has been laundered through various groups for payment to the national committee of the President's political party to support his campaign in the 1996 presidential election; and
Whereas, According to law enforcement officials, communications between Beijing and Chinese officials in the United States that were monitored by the National Security Agency suggest that the Chinese government had a concerted plan to influence American elected officials, possibly through the funneling of money to American politicians; and
Whereas, One of the agents who served as a conduit for these allegedly laundered contributions was John Huang, a Chinese-born executive employed by the Lippo Group, which is an Indonesia-based conglomerate having large business interests in China and controlled by the Riady family, likewise native to China; and
Whereas, The fundamental purpose of the federal independent counsel law, Pub.L.95-521 (28 U.S.C. §591 et seq.), is to ensure that serious allegations of unlawful conduct by federal executive officials are subject to review by counsel independent of any incumbent administration, Dellums v. Smith, D.C.Cal.1984, 577 F.Supp. 1449; and
Whereas, This law provides that upon receipt of information sufficient to constitute grounds therefor, the Attorney General of the United States shall conduct a preliminary investigation of whether any of certain enumerated federal officials, among whom are the President and Vice President, may have violated federal criminal law; and
Whereas, If the Attorney General decides, on the basis of that investigation, that there are reasonable grounds to believe that further investigation is warranted, she shall apply to the special division of the court for the appointment of an independent counsel, 28 U.S.C. §592(c)(1)(A), upon receipt of which application, the division of the court shall appoint an appropriate independent counsel and define that independent counsel's prosecutorial jurisdiction, 28 U.S.C. §593(b)(1); and
Whereas, The law further provides that the Committee on the Judiciary of either House of the Congress may request in writing that the Attorney General apply for the appointment of an independent counsel, 28 U.S.C. §592(g)(1); and
Whereas, From the press reports referred to above and others, there appears to be ample basis for the Attorney General to open a preliminary investigation of possible involvement of federal officers in criminal acts under federal law in connection with contributions by foreign donors and their agents to the re-election campaign of the President and Vice President of the United States; and
Whereas, Morever, the Senate Judiciary Committee has given notice that it wishes the Attorney General to undertake such an investigation; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House hereby urges the Honorable Janet Reno, Attorney General of the United States, to undertake a preliminary investigation into the numerous alleged fundraising improprieties in the recent presidential election campaign, with particular attention to the issue of the solicitation and acceptance of illegal contributions from foreign sources, and, if that investigation so warrants, to apply to the special division of the court responsible for the appointment of special prosecutors to make such an appointment.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the Attorney General of the United States and to every member of the Congress of the United States elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the Attorney General of the United States to undertake a preliminary investigation into various fundraising improprieties in the recent federal election campaign and, if that investigation so warrants, to apply to the special division of the court responsible for the appointment of special prosecutors to make such an appointment.
Urges U.S. Attorney General to conduct preliminary investigation of federal election campaign fundraising improprieties and, if appropriate, to apply for appointment of special prosecutor.