Investigators find proof linking Clinton to Riady<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON (AP): In the earliest evidence linking United
\nStates President Bill Clinton to a foreign donation,
\ninvestigators have unearthed a 1992 memo indicating James Riady
\ntook a coveted private car ride with Clinton just before the
\nIndonesian banker began writing checks that totaled half a
\nmillion dollars.<\/p>\n
Riady "will be giving US$100,000 to this event and has the
\npotential to give much more," Clinton was told in a memo dated
\nAug. 14, 1992, that advised he would share a car ride that day
\nwith the Indonesian billionaire after a fund-raiser. Clinton was
\nthen the Democratic presidential nominee.<\/p>\n
The memo, obtained by the Associated Press, was written by
\nMelinda Yee, the Democratic Party's outreach director for Asian-
\nAmericans.<\/p>\n
It said Riady, whose family controls the Lippo banking and
\nindustrial empire, wanted to talk to Clinton "about banking
\nissues and international business" and the car ride was "a
\ncourtesy call."<\/p>\n
Bank statements and memos reviewed by investigators show one
\nof the 1992 donations from a Riady company was directly covered
\nby foreign money and the rest were drawn on a personal account
\nthat appears to have been replenished -- before and after the
\ndonations -- with foreign funds. Some of the donations went to
\nthe Democratic Party's accounts that directly help federal
\ncandidates.<\/p>\n
Clinton's schedule for that day says Riady greeted Clinton at
\nthe door of an Arkansas restaurant where the two attended a
\nDemocratic fund-raiser and then took a five-minute car ride.<\/p>\n
In political circles, the one-on-one access of a car ride, no
\nmatter how brief, is a plum privilege.<\/p>\n
The memo, schedule and checks were brought to the attention of
\nthe Justice Department months ago by congressional investigators.<\/p>\n
Riady had a permanent green card and was a Clinton
\nacquaintance from the 1980s when Riady worked in Arkansas. After
\nClinton's election, Riady was an occasional visitor to the White
\nHouse, where he got direct access to Clinton.<\/p>\n
White House officials said Clinton had no reason to suspect
\nthe donations.<\/p>\n
"Mr. Riady... owned and continues to own American financial
\ninstitutions that generate U.S. income," White House spokesman
\nJim Kennedy said. "In 1992, he was a lawful permanent resident
\nand eligible to contribute to any political party.<\/p>\n
Federal law forbids U.S. candidates and parties from accepting
\nforeign money. The law allows foreigners who are legally and
\npermanently residing in the United States to make donations.<\/p>\n
U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies can only donate if they
\nuse funds generated inside the United States.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/investigators-find-proof-linking-clinton-to-riady-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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