News Digest
Clinton, FBI argue over
Chined election Influence
National Security
Council officials
reportedly kept quiet
about Chinese
contributions.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The
White House and the FBI clashed in a
rare public quarrel Monday after
President Clinton said he should have
been alerted when the bureau told na
tional security officials that the Chi
nese government might be trying to
influence U.S. elections.
The FBI said it did not try to keep
the information from Clinton’s senior
staff last year. But the White House
said the FBI imposed specific limits
that restricted the information to two
people on Clinton’s National Security
Council staff.
“Therefore, the White House con
siders the FBI’s statement to be in er
ror,” presidential spokesman Mike
McCuny said, leaving the FBI and the
White House at an embarrassing im
passe at day’s end.
Four hours earlier, Clinton com
plained that he should have been told
about the FBI’s suspicions. “It didn’t
happen. It should have happened. It
was a mistake.”
“The president should know,” he
said when questioned by a reporter.
Indeed, FBI agents had briefed al
least one member of Congress aboul
the alleged plot as long ago as 1991
during the Bush administration, a con
gresswoman said.
Late Monday, the FBI issued a
statement contradicting White House
assertions that the bureau had re
stricted the two national security offi
cials from telling their bosses about
the FBI warning.
The statement said senior officials
of the bureau’s national security divi
sion briefed two senior staff members
of the NSC “about the possible covert
activities of a foreign government in
the United States.” One of the people
receiving the briefing was an FBI
agent detailed to the NSC.
Responding to the FBI’s statement,
McCurry said the two NSC officials
have been questioned by the White
House legal counsel.
“They are adamant in recalling
specifically that they were urged not
to disseminate the information outside
the briefing room,” he said.
The alleged withholding of infor
mation from Clinton seemed even
stranger in the wake of revelations that
the FBI gave classified briefings—to
members of the NSC staff last year and
to a member of Congress five years
earlier—warning that China was try
ing to influence members of Congress
with campaign contributions.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said
FBI agents approached her in San
Francisco in late 1991 and early 1992
with a caution that China “is going to
attempt to get funds into campaigns
in the United States.”
Pelosi said she heard nothing more
about the issue until last June, when
the FBI again came to her with simi
lar warnings. Democratic Sens. Bar
bara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein of
California and Daniel Patrick
Moynihan of New York said they also
received FBI briefings last year.
The secret China briefing was the
latest development in a series of White
House embarrassments on the cam
paign fund-raising front.
The alleged plot already has be
come a factor in U.S.-China relations.
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright,
on a recent visit to Beijing, raised the
subject with senior leaders. They de
nied the allegations, she said.
LAPD chief denied contract
Unless city council
intervenes, LA’s first
black chief will leave
July 6.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Police
Chief Willie Williams, hired to restore
public confidence and department
morale after the Rodney King riots,
was denied a second five-year contract
on Monday.
The civilian Police Commission
said Monday that Williams failed to
become an effective leader of the
12,000-member force. The five mem
bers of the commission voted unani
mously against renewing his contract,
which expires July 6.
Williams, 53, said he was disap
pointed, but was unclear about what
he might do to fight the decision. He
insisted he’s done a good job.
“We’ve moved forward, we’ve
changed. ... A significant portion of
this department supports the chief of
police—period,” said Williams, who
was previously police commissioner in
i
Philadelphia. .*
The city’s first black police chief,
Wiliams replaced Daryl Gates in the
aftermath of the racial explosion ig
nited by King’s videotapedheating by
police officers and the riots that
erupted in 1992 when officers were
acquitted of criminal charges.
Unlike his predecessors, the new
chief was not chosen from within and
did not have the same job protection.
The city charter was changed, putting
police chiefs under five-year contracts
decided by the commission.
“As an African-American, the
chief quickly became a symbol of posi
tive change to the city’s minority com
munities as well as to the city at large,”
Commission President Ray Fisher
said. But Williams “did not take steps
to become a respected leader in the
department.”
The City Council can overrule the
commission. That would require
agreement by 10 of the 15 council
members to consider the issue.
Councilman Richard Alatorre said
he didn’t think Williams had the votes.
“If he hasn’t made any real
progress toward—and articulated—
a vision for the department in five
years, we’re going to wait five more
years for that vision to be articulated?
I don’t think we can afford to wait,”
he said.
Mayo- Richard Riordan backed the
commission and suggested Deputy
Chief Bernard Parks, a black 32-year
veteran of the department, be ap
pointed interim chief when Williams’
contract ends.
Los Angeles Urban League Presi
dent John Mack denounced the vote.
“Chief Williams came to Los An
geles facing a hostile police force in
ternally, in which so many of the of
ficers were against an outsider and
some were against having an African
American as chief,” Mack said.
“He’s getting the job done and they
don’t like how he’s doing it,” said
Richard Washington, 42, a black cus
tomer at a Crenshaw restaurant. Of the
race issue, he said: “This is America
— everything has racial overtones.”
Big-money politics fail Indian tribe
CONCHO, Okla. (AP) — Two
impoverished Indian tribes drained
their emergency fund" to donate
$107,000 to the Democratic National
Committee, hoping to regain tribal
land taken by the federal government
more than a century ago.
Since the donation last year, tribal
leaders have been wined and dined in
Washington. But the land hasn’t been
returned, and now tribal leaders say
the DNC and Democratic lobbyists are
back asking for more money.
“Of course we’ve been taken ad
vantage of,” Archie Hoffman, secre
tary of the Cheyenne-Arapaho tribes’
business committee, said Monday. He
conceded that no promises about the
land were made.
“We weren’t hoping for any short
term results,” Tyler Todd, the tribes’
senior adviser on governmental af
fairs, said. “We were hoping to make
things a little more easy on that long
term goal.”
White House spokesman Mike
McCurry said Monday he didn’t know
President Qinton’s reaction to news
reports of the tribes’ donation.
“I know that he does not feel any
contribution should change any legiti
mate effort by the government to re
view the status of a land claim,”
McCurry said.
Amy Weiss Tobe, a spokeswoman
for the DNC, said her organization
was looking into the matter.
“The only thing that is clear is
there is internal dissension within the
tribe,” she said. “The DNC is trying
to ascertain the facts and we haven’t
been able to talk to tribal leaders and
other players yet.”
The tribes arc trying to reclaim
7,500 acres the government took in
1869 to build Fort Reno. The fort was
closed in 1948 and the land is now
used for a federal agricultural research
project.
The tribes want to turn Fort Reno
into a tourist attraction and use the
surrounding land for. agriculture.
About 80 percent of the tribes’
10,700 members are unemployed, and
the political donation came from an
emergency-relief fund that provides
$150,000 each year to pay for food,
medical care and other necessities,
Hoffman said.
For their $107,000 donation, about
10 percent of the tribes’ annual rev
enue, their leaders got to eat at the
White House with President Ginton.
Now a tribal faction has asked the
DNC to return the money.
“We are a poor people and the
amount of money donated we cannot
afford,” tribal member Melvin
WhiteBird said in a statement.
COZAD-—A 41-year-old store clerk was shot and killed Monday
morning during an apparent robbery attempt at a convenience store.
The incident happened around 10:30 a.m. at the Amoco Service
Station along Interstate 80, according to Dawson County Attorney Eliza
beth Waterman. The name of the victim and the amount of money
stolen has not been released. v
Police are searching fa a white male in his early 20s, about 6 foot 3
inches tall and about 225 pounds, driving a red Pontiac Grand Am
with California plates.
He was barefoot at the time of the robbery, and police believe he
may be carrying a semiautomatic weapon.
Police are also looking for another woman who may have witnessed
the shooting. The woman was with a 2-to-3-year-old child, and offi
cials are hoping she might provide some more details.
Albanian rebels advance, steal jets as army flees
TIRANA, Albania — Rebels in southern Albania seized more ter
ritory Monday, looting assault rifles, heavy machine guns and MiG
fighter planes from government bases as police and army units fled
north.
In Tirana, President Sali Berisha met with opposition leaders to
discuss the composition of a new coalition government to run the country
before elections held by June. Opposition politicians, however, do not
control the armed civilians, who have said they will accept nothing
less than Berisha’s resignation.
Berisha agreed to the election and new government in an attempt to
quell the rebellion, sparked by public rage over high-risk investment
schemes in which nearly every Albanian family lost money. Many blame
the government for not warning people away from the pyramid schemes
-— and some claim it profited from the funds.
Citadel expels one, punishes nine cadets for hazing
CHARLESTON, S.C.—A male cadet at The Citadel was expelled
and nine others were given lesser punishments in the hazing and ha
rassment of two women cadets, the military school said Monday.
One cadet was cleared, and the FBI and state investigators continue
to lode into the women’s allegations for possible criminal charges.
Of 15 male cadets who faced discipline, one was expelled, the maxi
mum penalty, and one was given the second most severe punishment:
He is restricted to campus for the rest of the semester and must do 120
hours of marching with an unloaded rifle in the barracks courtyard.
Eight of the cadets received lesser punishments, ranging from shorter
marching tours and demerits to confinement to the barracks.
Cadets Jeanie Mentavlos of Charlotte, N.C., and Kim Messer of
Clover, S.C. said their clothes were set on fire and cleanser was put on
their heads. They also said they were forced to drink tea until they
became ill, made to drink alcohol and forced to stand in a closet while
being shoved and kicked last semester. They didn’t return to the state
military school for the spring semester.
Clinton’s approval rating slips in polls
WASHINGTON — President Clinton’s approval rating has slipped
slightly in the wake of allegations of questionable campaign fund-rais
ing activities, according to two polls released Monday.
A CBS News survey showed Clinton’s overall approval has fallen
from a high of 63 percent after the Jan. 20 inauguration to 56 percent
on Sunday, while a survey done for ABC News and The Washington
Post found a decline between mid-January and last week from 60 per
cent to 55 percent.
Both polls also indicate that while the public is concerned about
alleged wrongdoings in campaign fund raising, it has accepted them as
common practices.
In the CBS poll, 74 percent surveyed said they believed campaign
contributions encourage many public officials to change government
policy.
The ABC-Washington Post poll found while many were uncom
fortable with Clinton allowing donors to spend the night in the White
House, 59 percent said the president did nothing unlawful.
QuMtfom? Comments? Ask for tha
appropriate aaetion settlor at472
2SMof-mafldnOunHnfc).unL»du.
MKnr DouoKbuma
Managing Editor SutaLavigne
Assoc. Nows Editors: Joshua Gillin
Chad Lorenz
Night Editor Anne HJereman
Opinion Editor Anthony Nguyen
APWire Editor: JohnFuiwider
Copy Desk Chief: Julie Sobczyk
Sports Editor Trevor Parks
General Manager DanShattN
Advertising Manager AmyStruthers
Asst Ad Manager Cheryl Renner
Ciaaaified Ad Manager Tiffiny Clifton
A&E Editor Jeff Randal
Photo Director ScottBruhn
Art Director Aaron Stectoiberg
Web Editor: Michelle Collins
aa«—S-m. a«
Nigni nows
Editors: Bryce Glenn
Leanne Sorensen
Rebecca Stone
Amy Taylor
Publications Travis Brandt
Board Chairman: 436-7915.
Protossional Don Walton
Advisor: 473-7301
MX NUMBER:472-17S1
The Daily Nebraskan (USPS 144-060)18 published by the UNLPubBcations Board,
Nebraska Union 34,1400 RSL, Lincoln, NE 68568-0448, Monday through Friday during
the academic year; weekly during summer sessions.
Readere are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the DaBy Nebras
kan by caHing 472-2588. The public has access to the Publications Board.
ftibscripMonpriceis355fof oneyear
Postmaster: Sarvd address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34,
1400 RSL, Lincoln, NE 68588-0448. Second-class postage paid at Lincoln, Neb.
ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1907 DAILY NEBRASKAN _
*-• *’ r
• ^ •*
