The Return of Charlie Trie

Photo by Dennis Cook/AP

Yah Lin Trie leaves U.S. federal court in Washington, D.C., with an attorney after his arraignment last Thursday.

BY FRANK H. WU

Amid the ongoing scandal involving a former White House intern and the first lady's counterattack on "right-wing conspiracies," the "Asian connection" scandal has resurfaced.

Yah Lin "Charlie" Trie, the first figure from the campaign-finance inquiries to face criminal prosecution, has entered a "not guilty" plea in response to a felony indictment, which lists 15 charges related to donations to the Democratic Party during the 1996 elections. Last Thursday in the Capitol, Trie entered his plea before United States District Judge Paul Friedman. Released on a $200,000 bond, the former fugitive is restricted to Washington, D.C., Arkansas, and Virginia Beach. His last hiding place had been Macao.

Outside the courthouse, Reid Weingarten, a former Iran-Contra investigator who is serving as defense counsel for Trie, said that Trie--who had been absent from the country and presumed to be in hiding in China--"never intended to corrupt the American political system." Weingarten said that "any effort to make him the heavy in this political scandal will fall of its own weight," and described the criminal prosecution as "a political scandal" that has been "shoehorned in the criminal justice system."

After Trie turned himself in, after flying to the Dulles International Airport from Paris, Weingarten issued a press release stating, "Charlie Trie voluntarily returned to Washington ... to face the charges pending against him." The remainder of the prepared statement reads in full, "Because of this act, any questions about his being a fugitive from justice or a spy for a foreign power should be put to rest. We are confident that when the media frenzy and political savagery associated with this case abate and this matter is aired in court, Mr. Trie will be fully vindicated."

The disappearance of Trie had became an international concern. Last July, the Clinton administration considered a request from congressional investigators to make a formal inquiry with the Chinese government regarding Trie's whereabouts. Last November, Attorney General Janet Reno met in Washington with her Chinese counterpart, Xiao Yang, for a series of talks on "issues of mutual concern" such as international crime. Trie reportedly also was a subject of discussion. Reno sought Yang's help locating him. It is unknown whether the Chinese government made efforts to do so.

Although Trie has been described as "laundering" contributions illegally given to the Demcratic National Committee (DNC), the current indictment apparently charges him with much more specific legal violations that are not as serious. The indictment does not allege that he is a foreign agent, but rather that he sought political access possibly for personal gain. It also does not name Clinton administration officials allegedly influenced by Trie.

For example, while Trie served as a member of a Pacific Trade and Investment commission, there are no allegations related to his work in that federal government agency. The allegations against Trie stem from his contributions to the DNC, the headquarters for the Democratic Party, and also to the Presidential Legal Defense Fund.

Trie, who donated about $662,000 to the Democratic Party and another $640,000 to the defunct Whitewater fund, has been accused in press reports of giving the money as a conduit for other individuals. According to congressional investigators, Trie received various wire transfers from overseas accounts shortly before his contributions. They suspect that Trie may have served as a front for money coming from other sources, such as foreign nationals prohibited from financial participation in U.S. politics. The Democratic Party has returned some of the funds, but the Whitewater fund gave back the full amount.

Trie is also accused of obstructing congressional investigations into the matter. Antonio Pan, a business associate of his and former employee of the Riady Group, has also been indicted. Pan remains at large. Last year, in testimony before the Senate, Trie's sister indicated that she had written checks to the "DNC" at her brother's behest without understanding what those initials stood for. Some of the money orders brought by Trie to the private Whitewater fund, which are not subject to the same laws as political parties, were reportedly drawn in sequence from the same bank despite ostensibly being from different individuals.

Between 1993 and 1996, Trie apparently made some 22 or 23 visits to the White House. In addition, Trie reportedly brought individuals such as Wang Jun, a reputed arms dealer from China, to various political events at which Clinton was present.

Similarly, witnesses--some of whom were also contradicted on key aspects of their account--stated that Pan delivered cash to be used for contributions.

The 49-year-old Trie was a Little Rock, Ark. entrepreneur when he met then Gov. Clinton, who was a regular at his Chinese restaurant. Trie, who was born in Taiwan, is a naturalized U.S. citizen. Pan is a Taiwanese national. Although there have been numerous allegations that Trie attempted to use his connection to Clinton to further his business interests--trying to gain either a political post or join Commerce Department trade missions--Trie's business ventures appear to have been only modestly successful for the most part.

Speculation has already begun over whether Trie will plea bargain, exchanging information to be used against others for immunity or a lesser penalty.

California immigration advisor Maria Hsiah and the Hsi Lai Buddhist temple in suburban Los Angeles, the site of a visit by Vice President Al Gore, are widely believed to be among the potential targets if other indictments issue. Clinton administration comment has been circumspect. Reno said that the Trie indicment was "an important step forward."

By coincidence, Trie appeared as another grand jury in the same building continued questioning witnesses in the Lewinsky case. With the perpetual state of crisis in Washington, the joke circulating about Trie goes: "If a Trie surrenders during a sex scandal, does he make a sound?"

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