House probes Korean bribes

Press, 17 July 1978, Page 9

House probes Korean bribes

NZPA-Reuter Washington

The Ethics Committee of the American House of Representatives will soon begin disciplinary proceedings ; against four Congressmen . accused of involvement in ] the South Korean bribes ‘ scandal. The committee said last . :week it had reason to beI lieve the four, all Democrats, had violated campaign laws and Congressional rules by accepting cash and other gifts from wealthy South (Korean rice broker, Tongsun I Park. The panel also sent the ■ testimony of two former I Congressmen to the Justice | Department for possible I prosecution for perjury. Nine members were cleared, including an influential House speaker, Thomas O’Neill. But Mr O’Neill’s propriety in accepting two parties in his honour paid for by Mr Park was questioned by the committee, which said”: “It may be unwise for an important Congressman to permit either a foreigner or a suspected lobbyist to give him a party.” The Congressmen who will now face the Ethics Committee are John McFall, Edward Roybal, and Charles Wilson, all of California, and Edward Patten of New Jersey. They were given 21 days to respond to the allegations and will get a chance to put their defence before the panel decides whether to recommend disciplinary action by the full House. ” The proceedings stem from the committee’s 18rnonth inquiry into accusations of a wide-ranging! scheme by South Korean

, agents to buy influence in! ' Congress. , So far Mr Park, two Lorimer Congressmen, and a 1 South Korean-born American 'i businessman have been indicted by a Federal Grand I Jury as a result of the parallel Justice Department probe. In the Ethics committee panel report on the four members Mr McFall was accused of failing to report a campaign contribution from IMr Park and of using the funds personally; Mr Wilson I of lying about money he received from Mr Park as a wedding present in 1975; Mr Patten of violating campaign laws by directing contributions from Mr Park to a New Jersey Democratic committee; and Mr Roybal of lying in sworn testimony when he denied getting a ; $lOOO contribution from Mr I Park in 1974.