The "most ethical administration in history" strikes again:
Thai Charged for Illegal Donations
By Michael J. Sniffen
Associated Press Writer
Monday, July 13, 1998; 3:20 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Thai businesswoman Pauline Kanchanalak and
her sister-in-law were charged today with funneling foreign contributions
to the Democratic National Committee and other U.S. political
committees.
The 24-count indictment returned in U.S. District Court here charged the
pair with conspiring to impede the Federal Election Commission and
cause false statements to be submitted to it.
Kanchanalak, 47, and her sister-in-law and business associate, Duangnet
''Georgie'' Kronenberg, 41, are the sixth and seventh people indicted by
the Justice Department's campaign finance task force.
According to the indictment, the pair used funds from foreign corporations
and individuals -- including Pauline Kanchanalak herself and her husband,
Jeb -- to make prohibited campaign contributions of at least $679,000 to
the Democratic National Committee and other U.S. political committees.
The foreign-sourced money was funneled through the accounts of Georgie
Kronenberg and Praitun Kanchanalak, Kronenberg's mother and Pauline's
mother-in-law, because they hold green cards as permanent resident
aliens and are legally entitled under federal election laws to make
contributions to U.S. campaigns with their own funds, the indictment said.
Foreigners are barred from giving to U.S. campaigns and Pauline
Kanchanalak, as a Thai citizen, cannot contribute to the nomination and
election of candidates for political office in this country.
Praitun Kanchanalak and Jeb Kanchanalak were named as unindicted
coconspirators in the indictment.
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