>>>>>In 1995, then-Rep. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., made secrets public at the behest of left-wing activist Bianca Jagger, his girlfriend at the time, according to Newark Star-Ledger columnist Paul Mulshine in the January/February issue of Heterodoxy.
The secrets suggested that the CIA had on its payroll one or more unsavory characters who had been involved in murder.
Torricelli gave away secrets he obtained through his membership on the House Intelligence Committee. <<<<<<
04/19/2001
- ...senator appears on Meet the Press, ostensibly to discuss relations with China. But he ends up being grilled by host Tim Russert about an ongoing federal investigation into the fund-raising practices of his 1996 campaign. Torricelli is forced to concede on the air that, yes, his home was searched by federal agents.
- The New York Times reports in a front-page story that David Chang, a former Torricelli supporter, has told the government that he gave the senator at least 10 Italian-made suits, a Rolex watch, Tiffany cuff links, an area rug, a 52-inch television set and an unspecified amount of cash.
- Torricelli holds a press event in Newark. Torricelli angrily declares, "To challenge my integrity based on the claims of David Chang is beneath contempt."
- Torricelli has not been charged with any crime, and the accusations against him remain unproven. Chang has pleaded guilty to illegally donating $53,700 to the 1996 Torricelli campaign and is now cooperating with federal investigators. In a press statement, Torricelli said angrily, "My reputation is not David Chang's opportunity to get out of jail free."
- He flamboyantly dated Bianca Jagger and Patricia Duff, the ex-wives of Mick Jagger and billionaire Ron Perelman. As the chief fundraiser for Senate Democrats for four years, Torricelli spent long evenings in the living rooms of the mega-rich, raising tens of millions from the kind of contributors who don't think twice about writing $50,000 checks to the party.
- Sen. Harrison Williams and Rep. Frank Thompson went to prison because they could not resist bribe offers from FBI agents masquerading as Arab sheiks. Torricelli's current legal torment does not demonstrate that these ethical questions are unique to New Jersey's political culture.
- Democrat Robert Torricelli, was forced to withdraw his candidacy for reelection over corruption charges
>>>The New York Times reports in a front-page story that David Chang, a former Torricelli supporter, has told the government that he gave the senator at least 10 Italian-made suits, a Rolex watch, Tiffany cuff links, an area rug, a 52-inch television set and an unspecified amount of cash.<<<
David Chang, an international businessman, is one of the Democratic Party's biggest donors. He visited with President Bill Clinton at the White House on several occasions and claims to have eaten pizza with the President in South Korea. On April 13, David Chang was placed under 24-hour house arrest for allegedly coercing a former employee to lie about the methods in which he made campaign contributions.
Chang is a target of the U.S. Department of Justice's Campaign Financing Task Force. His house arrest stems from taped conversations made by federal investigators between fired Chang employee Chris Kim and Chang in which Kim was reportedly asked to lie to federal authorities about Chang's alleged laundering of $80,000 in South Korea. At the time, Chang was free on $500,000 bail after being charged with making illegal campaign contributions to Senator Robert Torricelli (D-NJ) in 1996.
A letter from the Justice Department released in mid-April states the government has evidence that Chang "received and/or solicited" help from Senator Torricelli on four matters. These matters are helping to unfreeze Chang's assets in North Korea, helping him purchase a South Korean insurance company, writing college recommendations for relatives and making introductions for him with foreign dignitaries.
Torricelli's office admits to helping try to unfreeze Chang's North Korean assets, but reports it was unsuccessful. Chang received bipartisan support in his attempt to buy the Korea Life Insurance Company as well as seeking Torricelli's assistance, but that also failed. On a trip to South Korea last September during negotiations on the sale, Chang was accompanied by President Clinton's chief fundraiser Terrence McAuliffe.
Regarding charges that Chang funneled $23,000 to Torricelli's 1996 Senate campaign, three people have already pled guilty to the illegal activity and one has fled the country. Chang passed money to members of the Bergen County (NJ) Democratic Party leadership which then reimbursed others for their donations to the Torricelli campaign. Torricelli's initial response was to speculate that every member of Congress gets donations from such "straw donors," and that "people have to learn to take these laws seriously." He denies knowledge of any illegal contributions.