Exclusive: Documents Allege Torricelli Fund-Raising Scandal(Stunning!)

WNBC ^ | 5/22/02

[Mr.Clark]

NEW YORK -- David Chang said it was Sen. Bob Torricelli himself who called and told Chang to make large cash payments directly to him in his home.

In court papers filed in the federal courthouse in Newark, N.J. on Wednesday afternoon, and obtained exclusively by Newschannel 4, Chang said he made "14 such deliveries to Torricelli's home in Englewood, N.J. Each payment was approximately $8,000 or $9,000." That adds up to more than $100,000. Chang came out with these new accusations against Torricelli in a bid to get no jail time.

Chang said Torricelli would call him from Washington on Friday afternoons, and they would meet at the senator's home later that same night.

According to the papers: "Torricelli would bring Chang into the kitchen and turn up the volume of a radio when they spoke before he would accept the payment. Torricelli explained to Chang that he was concerned the Federal Bureau of Investigation had planted a 'bug' in the house."

The papers' also say that Chang and Torricelli met at a Starbucks in Englewood in March 2000, and discussed the cash payments.

For the first time, Chang's court memorandum publicly details Chang's version of events, listing the thousands in cash and gifts he allegedly gave the senator including a cashmere coat, a $4,000 grandfather clock, a $9,200 Rolex, an expensive watch for his former wife, and a 42-inch television set.

"Torricelli also asked Chang to purchase an automobile for his former wife, Susan Torricelli, which Chang did not do. At one point, Torricelli requested that Chang open an offshore account under a different name and to provide him with a credit card for the account," the court papers say.

The documents were filed in advance of Changs sentencing hearing set for Thursday. Chang pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and numerous counts involving campaign finance violations and has served as a cooperating witness against Torricelli for the government's criminal investigation into the senator, claiming the senator did favors for him in exchange for the cash and gifts.

But prosecutors announced earlier this year that no criminal charges will be brought against Torricelli. And the matter was referred to the Senate Ethics Committee.

Torricelli's office has described Chang as mentally disturbed and as a pathological liar. They point to his criminal conviction, and his lies early on in the investigation. Newschannel 4 called Toricelli's office and they offered a statement. The statement said: "Mr. Chang has a long history of making false accusations against public officials that included not only Sen. Torricelli, but also Attorney General Janet Reno and other high-ranking government officials. Mr. Chang is a deeply troubled individual whose own lawyers have referred to his psychiatric problems. These outrageous allegations by an admitted perjurer are false and after an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's office, which Mary Jo White called 'thorough and exhaustive,' the matter was closed."

Chang's attorney declined to comment, and said the court paper speaks for itself. But the papers point out the Justice Department has sent the court a letter verifying that Chang cooperated fully and was truthful.

Chang also claims Torricelli lobbied the South Korean government in his business dealings. According to the court papers, "Torricelli attempted to use his position as a U.S. senator to personally enrich himself by demanding Chang pay him a $10 million commission if the deal went through (which ultimately it did not.)."

And Chang outlines a series of alleged attempts by Torricelli to keep him from cooperating. Chang said Torricelli boasted he had a friend who was "connected to the mafia and that 'Jimmy leaves no evidence.'"

And at a 7-Eleven in Fort Lee, N.J., Chang claims Torricelli and the head of a garbage hauling company followed him inside. Chang ran out the back door.

Chang said that he originally contacted the senator, in hopes that it could help him with his business dealings. Toricelli said he did nothing improper.

[joyce11111]

This will go no where...

[alaskanfan]

Are you saying there is a bias in the news media?

Shocking!!! truly shocking! /sarcasm

[Demidog]

Torricelli's office has described Chang as mentally disturbed and as a pathological liar. They point to his criminal conviction, and his lies early on in the investigation. Newschannel 4 called Toricelli's office and they offered a statement. The statement said: "Mr. Chang has a long history of making false accusations against public officials that included not only Sen. Torricelli, but also Attorney General Janet Reno and other high-ranking government officials. Mr. Chang is a deeply troubled individual whose own lawyers have referred to his psychiatric problems. These outrageous allegations by an admitted perjurer are false and after an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's office, which Mary Jo White called 'thorough and exhaustive,' the matter was closed."

So perhaps one of the smarter freepers can explain to me how Chang was convicted for violating campaign finance laws involving his donations to Torriceli, but Torricelli himself is not guilty of violating those same laws. Is this the way the law is written or is Torricelli above the law? And why, if the Bush administration is handling this investigation and criminal proceeding, are they refusing to charge Torricelli with any violations?

[Humidston]

My my... All those pesky questions, Demidog. Whatsa matter with you? You don't really expect our side to be allowed a level playing field, do you? And hold liberals/dims to the same ethical standards as the rest of us??

....Ain't gonna happen.

Now just hush and write those checks to the tax man. The Beast is hungry!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Chang said he made "14 such deliveries to Torricelli's home in Englewood, N.J. Each payment was approximately $8,000 or $9,000." That adds up to more than $100,000. .... "Chang said Torricelli would call him from Washington on Friday afternoons, and they would meet at the senator's home later that same night. "

Is that what Jesse Jackson calls "walkin around money"? 8 grand a weekend makes for one hell of a party. It would be interesting to find out Torricelli's itinerary for those weekends. A weekend in the Hamptons? A flight to Vegas? Maybe a trip into the City or Atlantic City?

[henbane]

... after an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's office, which Mary Jo White called 'thorough and exhaustive,' the matter was closed."

Oh yeah!

Isn't this the Clinton-appointed Dem shyster that was supposed to do "a thorough and exhaustive" investigation of Bubba's outrageous pardon of that exiled criminal, Marc Rich?

Case closed.

[Elkiejg]

So perhaps one of the smarter freepers can explain to me how Chang was convicted for violating campaign finance laws involving his donations to Torriceli, but Torricelli himself is not guilty of violating those same laws. Is this the way the law is written or is Torricelli above the law? And why, if the Bush administration is handling this investigation and criminal proceeding, are they refusing to charge Torricelli with any violations?

EXCELLENT QUESTION!! I reworded slightly and sent it to the DOJ and Senate Ethics Comm............just to let them know some people out here are paying attention.

[gridlock]

And at a 7-Eleven in Fort Lee, N.J., Chang claims Torricelli and the head of a garbage hauling company followed him inside. Chang ran out the back door.

This WNBC article does not mention what Sue Simmons read on the air last night, that Chang claims to have the security video from the 7-Eleven that caught this encounter on tape. It will take videotape smoking-gun evidence to extinguish the Torch, but Chang may have it.

[mewzilla]

Chang had some pretty interesgting ties to Toon, too, if I recall corectly. And I think Chang gave some big bucks (at least 20 grand, I'll see if I can find the figure) to Toon's defense fund.

[Elle Bee]

Thank you Mary Jo White

Passing on the Torch - Sen. Torricelli escapes prosecution ~ WSJ.

.

CLICK on Janet Reno's MiniMe:

[Mary Jo] White Put Politics Before Prosecution ~ Kelly Patricia O’ Meara - Insight Magazine

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Click on Clinton's latest stained lady and go to: That's Rich - Will Mary Jo White find out if Clinton took cash for pardons? ~ WSJ.

Mary Jo White ~ Janet Reno's MiniMe

.

DOJ Under Janet Ashcroft - Has Anything Changed?

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Mary Jo White's Tenure in the Southern District of New York ~ Capital Research Center

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Look who's still laughing --->>>

As Bush Replaces Prosecutors, a Formidable One Stays On ~ NY Times begins the Mary Jo 'White'-wash

>>>>> Hired by Mr. Fiske [ 1st Independent Clinton Prosecutor Whitewashwater & Vince Foster ] in 1978 when he was the United States attorney, she spent about three years as a young assistant in the Southern District, helping prosecute the Omega 7 anti- Castro terrorist group, among others. She also befriended Louis J. Freeh, then also a young prosecutor. <<<<<<<

Can it get ANY more incestuous ???

.

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[Ed_in_NJ]

"Mr. Chang is a deeply troubled individual..."

Haven't we heard this (fill in the subject's name) somewhere before?

[rwfromkansas]

bump

[OldFriend]

LOL are you suggesting that if Trent Lott was the Senate Majority Leader, he would conduct a thorough investigation into Toricelli's corruption?

[Ed_in_NJ]

Ping.

[Sub-Driver]

SHOCKING!

[Coop]

Two polls (by Quinnipiac in late Jan 02, and by National Research in mid Feb 02) showed 20% and 28% of those polled wanting to re-elect the Torch and 49% and 43% wanting to elect someone else, respectively. He's currently leading all three GOP candidates in the latest WABC-TV poll from earlier this month, but the Torch doesn't break 48% against any of them. He's still vulnerable if the NJ GOP can get its act together (I know, big "if").

The bad news is Torricelli has a ton of money.

[Elenya]

Interesting timing, though

Torrichelli Calls For 09-11 Probe Into Clinton Intelligence Failures

[eureka!]

"I'm sure the Senate Ethics Committee will be all over this."

LOL. Stop, you're killing me. Seriously though, I do hope that this gets some play in NJ. The Torch is in trouble and November is fast approaching. A pox on MJ White for letting him go on this...

[harpo11]

Disconcerted, perpetually disappointed Daschle worry about such a slight meaningless thing as Democrat ethics?
He wouldn't know ethics even if it smacked him on the side of his head.

[dyed_in_the_wool]

He's still vulnerable if the NJ GOP can get its act together

New Jersey has a GOP? Funny, I live there and I haven't heard of it...
There used to be a GOP, but they stopped supporting their candidates. So I did too.