CARTER AID SOUGHT IN SOUTH KOREA INFLUENCE PROBE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R000600170041-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 21, 2004
• Sequence Number: 41
• Publication Date: February 6, 1978
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2004/06/15 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R000600170041-3
Carter Aid Sought, in South Korea Influence Probe
By Warren Brown
Washington Post Staff Writer
Leon Jaworski, special counsel to
they House committee investigating
South Korean influence-buying in
CMress, called on President Carter
yesterday to order the State Depart-
mnt to help the committee obtain
testimony from Kim Dong Jo, former
South Korean ambassador here.
Jaworski said he believes
"revelation of the facts" by Kim is im-
portant to the investigation because
public hearings last fall "disclosed"
that Kim "had been cutting a pretty
good path up to the Hill-taking some
money up there."
"We just want to know who were
the recipients of those funds," Jawor-
ski,.said. He also said his investigators
want to know whether the alleged
South Korean largess was returned or
retained by its recipients.
The Koreans have refused to make
available testimony by former diplo-
mats, and other high ranking officials
would violate diplomatic immunity.
Jaworski said the State Department,
affected by what he called "unsound
reasoning," is supporting the Korean
position.
"If the American people and if'
President Carter and if the State De-
partment will stand up and help us, I
think we will satisfy the American
people with this investigation," Jawor-
ski said on "Meet the Press" (NBC,
WRC).
"I want him to back us up, particu-
larly as far as the State Department is
concerned," he said of Carter.
"You want him to get the State De.
partment in line?" Jaworski was
asked.
"That is right," he responded.
The White House and State Depart-
ment declined immediate comment on
Jaworski's remarks.
Some investigators believe Kim can
provide more evidence than Tongsun
Park, the South Korean businessman
and former Washington socialite who
is the alleged central figure in the in-
fluence-buying probe. Jaworski im-
Mpprov
plied yesterday that Kim is of at least
equal importance.
"We know that he visited a num.
ber" of members of Congress, Jawor-
ski said. "The problem is exactly how
many and who they were." The spe-
cial counsel said testimony last fall in-
dicated that Kim "took quite a few
number of envelopes stuffed with $100
bills" to Capitol Hill.
Jaworski said other "corroborating
circumstances" link Kim to the case,
but "I can't point to those at the m--
ment because they haven't been dis-
closed."
"I believe that he eventually will
be made available-that is, his testi-
mony will be made available," Jawor-
ski said of Kim. He said his belief is
based on recent events, including a
congressional threat to cut off aid to
South Korea that has resulted in
Park's cooperation.
The House Committee on Standards
of Official Conduct announced last
week that Park would be questioned
in closed session by its investigators
in Washington Feb. 21. Park is also
iOP Release 2004/06/15 CI.A-RDP81M00980R000600170041-3
expected to testify in criminal pro-
ceedings in Washington March 20. He
was given immunity from criminal
prosecution in exchange for his testi-
mony in Seoul last month and his co-
operation in expected court cases in
the United States.
Jaworski said he expects the closed-
session questioning to take "as long as
a week or 10 days." He said the entire
case could be completed in two to
three months if the committee re-
ceives "the full cooperation of South
Korea."
In all, about "two dozen" members
of Congress may be guilty of ethics vi-
olations in the case, and "a few" of
those members could be criminally
culpable, Jaworski said.
He also said he expects the commit-
tee to recommend "some rather seri-
ous sentences" that could result in the
expulsion of some House members.
The case, said Jaworski, "is equiva-
lent from the standpoint of signifi-
cance and importance" to the Water-
gate scandals that toppled President
Nixon.