<< I've pointed out several times that there is no reason to think Gore knew that money was raised during his 5 minute talk at the Buddist Temple. Anything wrong that occurred was due to overeager junior supporters. >>
$100 large from the Chinese isn't exactly just "overeager junior supporters." Plus it was planned as a fund raiser.
The Secret Service Knew. According to documents provided to Congress, the Secret Service was informed that the event at the Buddhist Temple was a fundraiser. The site and location of the event is described as the “HSI LAI TEMPLE, 3456 GLENMARK DRIVE, HACIENDA HEIGHTS.” And under the space marked “NATURE OF EVENT AND NUMBERS EXPECTED TO ATTEND,” it states, “FUNDRAISING LUNCHEON, 150 ATTENDEES, 370 INVITED TEMPLE MEMBERS.”
The White House Staff Knew. John Huang told a Chinese newspaper in Los Angeles that the White House “saw no conflict in Gore attending a fundraiser at a religious facility.” John Huang gave an interview to the World Journal on April 24, 1996, five days before the event at the Hsi Lai Temple. The article provides: “Individuals of the local Chinese community are planning a vegetarian fundraising banquet to show support for the re-election of Clinton and Gore. . . . This is believed to be the first political fundraiser at [sic] Hsi Lai Temple. . . . After being briefed, the White House saw no conflict in Gore attending a fundraiser at a religious facility. Citing prior instances of such, the White House agreed on Gore’s appearance at [sic] Hsi Lai Temple.” (“Gore Visits Hsi Lai Temple on the 29th,” World Journal, 4/24/96, Translation by the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee)
Gore Acted as if He Knew. Gore personally sent an email regarding the April 29, 1996 “fundraisers” in California the very day he met with temple master Hsing Yun, Maria Hsia, and John Huang in the White House. On March 15, 1996, a staff member e-mailed Gore about attending a separate event in New York on April 28, 1996. Gore responded via e-mail later the same day: “If we have already booked the fundraisers [in California] then we have to decline.”
The National Security Council Knew. On April 15, 1996, two weeks before the temple event, two White House national security experts exchanged e-mails regarding the event: “Hsing Yun has invited the VP to visit the Hsi Lai Temple in LA. Hsing Yun would host a fundraising lunch for about 150 people in the VP’s honor.” The “150 people” figure is consistent with the Secret Service document referenced above and indicates that the fundraiser was to be at the temple, not another location as indicated by Maria Hsia and John Huang.
Maria Hsia Knew: Hsia Organized and Attended the Event. In April of 1996, now-convicted Democrat fundraiser Hsia, who arranged and planned the event with John Huang, was a major fundraiser for Gore for eight years. She acted as one of Gore’s escorts at the temple event and even translated his speech for him that day. According to Fortune magazine, “Gore saw green whenever he saw Hsia.” (Fortune, 2/27/00) Gore was well acquainted with Hsia. “In 1989, Gore was the sole U.S. Senator to accept Hsia’s entreaty to visit the temple’s Taiwan headquarters on a trip partly paid for by the order.” (Fortune, 2/27/00) On February 14, 2000, Matthew Gorman, Hsia’s assistant at the time of the temple event, testified in U.S. v. Hsia that Hsia requested that he help organize the temple event while she was in China. Four or five days before the event, Hsia expressed concern to Gorman that none of the non-VIP guests invited would contribute money to the DNC. Gorman was shocked that she expected him to keep track of the temple contributions. Hsia replied, “Well this is a fundraiser.” (U.S. v. Hsia, 1999) After the event, Gorman asked Hsia how the event went. Hsia replied, “Not enough money was raised as I expected. I talked with Master Hsing Yun, and he said he’ll take care of it.” (emphasis added) (U.S. v. Hsia, 1999)
John Huang Knew: Huang Attended and Helped Organize the Event. At the time of the event in April of 1996, Democrat fundraiser Huang, who recently pled guilty to campaign finance violations, had been a major fundraiser for Gore for eight years. Huang was a Vice Chairman for Finance at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) at the time - and in charge of raising funds in the Asian community for the DNC. In fact, as early as September 27, 1993, Gore paid high praise to Huang’s fundraising prowess at a DNC event: “And to my friend John Huang and his wife Jane, thank you for being a long time friend and ally. We go back a long time. . . . We are long time friends, and John has been a very faithful and meaningful, productive supporter of the efforts being made by our party, and I want to publicly thank you.” (emphasis added) (Al Gore, DNC Reception/Fundraiser, house.gov, 9/27/93)
Recently, in U.S. v. Hsia, Huang testified that he “mentioned” to Hsia that he “hoped [he] could bring back $100,000.” (U.S. v. Hsia, 1999) He further testified that Hsia “handed [him] an envelope” and indicated that it contained $100,000. |
