NCJ Number
64180
Date Published
1977
Length
585 pages
Annotation
HEARINGS HELD BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT FOCUS ON EFFORTS BY KOREAN NATIONALS TO INFLUENCE CONGRESSIONAL ACTIONS.
Abstract
THE HEARINGS WERE HELD TO INVESTIGATE A BREACH OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 252, WHICH PROHIBITS ANY PERSON HOLDING FEDERAL OFFICE, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, FROM ACCEPTING ANY PRESENT, EMOLUMENT, OFFICE, OR TITLE FROM ANY FOREIGN GOVERNMENT. THE HEARINGS INCLUDED THE TESTIMONY OF 14 WITNESSES, AMONG WHOM WERE ATTACHES OF THE KOREAN EMBASSY, EMPLOYEES OF BUSINESSMAN TONGSUN PARK, THE WIVES OF TWO CONGRESSMEN, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE RICE GROWERS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA, AND A U.S. CUSTOMS OFFICIAL. AFTER MONTHS OF INVESTIGATIVE EFFORT BY THE COMMITTEE, AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO ESTABLISH THAT A PLAN TO BUY OFF AMERICAN CONGRESSMEN WAS PRESENTED TO MEMBERS OF THE KOREAN EMBASSY BY THE STATION CHIEF OF THE KOREAN CENTRAL INTELLIGENCY AGENCY. THE PLAN WAS TO PERSONALLY INVOLVE IMPORTANT KOREAN OFFICIALS AND BE SHROUDED IN EXTREME SECRECY, USING CODE WORDS AND EXPLOITING DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGE. MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WERE OFFERED ENVELOPES STUFFED WITH CASH, AND TWO CONGRESSIONAL WIVES WERE SIMILARLY APPROACHED WHILE VISITING KOREA. ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE PLAN INVOLVED THE EFFORT OF TONGSUN PARK TO FUNCTION AS MIDDLEMAN BETWEEN KOREAN RICE MERCHANTS AND AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN. OVER A 7 YEAR PERIOD, PARK WAS PAID $9 MILLION WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO USE THE FUNDS FROM RICE COMMISSIONS TO BUY INFLUENCE IN CONGRESS. THESE HEARINGS REPRESENT THE FIRST PHASE OF THE COMMITTEE'S INVESTIGATIVE EFFORT. COMMITTEE EXHIBITS ARE APPENDED. (MRK)