Scandals Involving Foreign Politicians
In 1996 and 1997, the United States Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Government Reform investigated a 21 June 1995 White House coffee reception at which Wong met then-president Bill Clinton. According to a ledger entry made by Clinton’s assistant, Harold Ickes, Wong pledged at that time to donate US$100,000 to the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Records show that the money was not received. However, Charlie Trie, the man who had obtained the invitation for Wong, delivered a $50,000 donation to the DNC the following day and testified before the House Committee that he was reimbursed by Wong’s associates. Trie has since pled guilty to transferring corporate contributions to the DNC in violation of campaign finance laws. This has raised suspicion that Wong may have sought a quid pro quo in the form of waived environmental regulations for FPG interests in the U.S. The matter was investigated but Wong did not face prosecution.
In November 2000, People First Party Legislator Chin Huei-chu accused Wong of coordinating a PRC bribe worth US$4.5 million for the benefit of President Chen Shui-bian. Investigations by the ROC National Security Bureau found no evidence to confirm her charges, and Wong sued the legislator for libel.
In August 2002 Neil Bush, the brother of President George W. Bush, signed a 5-year consulting contract with Grace Semiconductor, reportedly at Wong’s request. This contract, worth a total of $2 million in company stock, came despite Bush’s admission that he possesses “absolutely no educational background in semiconductors.” No wrongdoing has been alleged but some have questioned the propriety of this deal, especially in light of Wong’s investments in the educational software firm that Bush co-founded.
Read more about this topic: Winston Wong
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