SENATORS REJECT DODD CHALLENGE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000200290051-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 2, 1999
• Sequence Number: 51
• Publication Date: July 21, 1966
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 1999/0047 2 CI 6RDP75-001
m-lincy 'SENATORS REJECT "p 1' h from, the tt. subject as o
"eranr.l gift, not. subj bject ton
ine7nmF lax,
Il' The mmitt 'crortting the
ODDQHALLEI1GE ethics committee, did d nof ot spe-
cify R5 authority to look into
` ~-- campaign finances. But it gave
Ethics Panel Asserts It Can
Scan His Financial Deals
power to "investigate allega-
tions of improper conduct which
may reflect upon the Senate."
8enator Dodd, committee
members said, cooperated fully
By E. W. KENWORTIiY
Special to The New York Vwl
WASHINGTON, July 20 -
The Senate Ethics Committee
has brushed aside an attempt
by Senator Thomas J. Dodd to
'hailenge its authority to In-
gttire Into the use he made of
progeeds from test}Imonial din-
John F. Sonnett, chief counsel
for the Connecticut Democrat,
said today that the Senate res-
olution creating the committee
did not give the committee juris-
diction to Investigate campaign
finances.
When Informed of Mr. ' Son-
nett's ' statement, committee
members said Senator Dodd and
Mr. Sonnett had been taking
1this position In the committee's
private session. They had done
so, members said, since they
learned the comn,i?ttee Intended
to examine the fields from testi-
monial dinners rs well an the
Senator's relationship with
Julius I icin, hca'l of a Chicago
public relations firm.
. Stennht Unimpressed
with the committee's investlga&
tion into his rclatlonsrhip with
Mr. Klein. The columnists had.
chargc'l that Mr. Dodd went toj
Germany in April of 1964 to'
help "Klein hang 'onto his ell-'
ents" there,
ooperatinn Ends
However, committee t>'tembcrs
added, Mr. Dodd ceased to be
cooperative when he was asked
to make his financial records
available. i
Consequently, the committee
is seeking infbrination through
subpoenas Issued to banks, In-
surance companies and busintss
concerns with which the Sena-
tor had dealings.
No subpoenas are being Is-
sued to Mr. Dodd because the
committee does not wish to
seem to be forcing him to In-
eriminate himself.
A Senate committee 19 the
judge of Its own authority, sub,
ject only to limitation by the
full Senate. Any challenge of
its authority must be made on
the Senate floor.
During the Investigation of
Senator Joseph R. McCarthy byt
the Subcommittee on Privileges
and Elections in 1951 and 1951,
Mr. McCarthy, challenged the
committee's authorit to inveb
tigate his ; financial dealing-9;
The Senate rejected. his : ,opal-
lenge, 60 to 0"
:
It was learned that Senator
John Stennis, the Mississippi
Democrat who is the commit-
tee chairman, was unimpressed
by the argument that the com-
mittee lacked authority .to in-
vestigate charges by Drew
Pearson and Jack Anderson,
Washington columnists, that
Senator Dodd had diverted about
$200,000 from testimonial dii,-
Hers to his own use.
Although the ? dinners had
been advertised qs 'campaign
:fund affairs, aides of the Sena-
Inv have. said- he, regarded the
Approved For Release'.1999/09/17 : CIA-RDP75-00149P
0002002'90051'-6'