Posted on 05/22/2002 8:44:48 PM PDT by 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.
Hopefully, the winner of the pubbie primary will make an issue of this, demanding to know what is in the referral.
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