Fundraisers Plead Guilty Today

A California couple has pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws with contributions to the campaigns of Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and an unsuccessful House candidate from Oklahoma. Nora and Gene Lum were accused of giving the two Democrats a total of about $50,000 from an energy company they owned and making the donations using other people's names. Under terms of a plea agreement, they could get up to five years in prison and be fined $250,000. The Lums' daughter Trisha also pleaded guilty to a less serious charge of funnelling a $10,000 contribution to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee while she worked at the Commerce Department.

Clinton Aide Testifies

Today's Washington Post says Nancy Soderberg, a top national security aide to President Clinton, has testified before a federal grand jury about White House contacts with Democratic donor Roger Tamraz. The grand jury is investigating whether anyone tried to bribe or pressure administration officials into supporting Tamraz or his proposal to build a multibillion-dollar pipeline from the Caspian Sea. Soderberg is in line to be nominated as U.S. representative to the United Nations for special political affairs.

Carville Pens Fundraising Letter

The Democratic Party has sent supporters a fund-raising letter written by political strategist James Carville declaring that the party is in "dire" financial straits and could be "crippled for years." Accusing congressional Republicans of conducting a witch hunt, Carville said their politically inspired investigations of alleged fund-raising misdeeds in the 1996 election had hamstrung Democratic operations. Democratic National Committee Chairman Steve Grossman said the party was currently around $16 million in debt and had cut back on what he termed "many non-essential activities" in order to cut costs. But he insisted Democrats would be fully funded and highly competitive in 1998.

Clinton Vows Disaster Aid Veto

The House and Senate are expected to vote today on a bill to provide emergency relief to disaster-stricken states. But President Clinton is vowing to veto it unless unacceptable conditions are dropped. Republicans have rejected calls from Democrats for a stripped-down bill that just provides disaster aid for 35 states, including flood-stricken North Dakota, and funds to maintain U.S. troops in Bosnia. Instead, a House-Senate conference panel kept controversial GOP-backed measures to avoid a government shut-down in case of another budget impasse between Congress and the White House, and to dictate how the government conducts the 2000 census.

General Still a Candidate

The White House and Pentagon say Air Force Gen. Joseph Ralston is still a candidate to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff despite an acknowledged affair in the mid-1980s. Defense Secretary William Cohen says he's satisfied "Ralston's conduct was neither prejudicial to good order and discipline, nor discrediting to the armed forces." And the White House is praising Ralston's qualifications while pointing out that Cohen has not made his final recommendation yet to President Clinton. The affair is said to have taken place while Ralston was separated from his wife, Linda, whom he later divorced.

Army Sergeant Acquitted of Rape

A U.S. military jury in Germany has acquitted an army sergeant of rape and sodomy charges but found him guilty of lesser offenses in the latest sex scandal to taint the American armed forces. Sgt. First Class Julius Davis, 37, of Fayetteville, N.C., was found guilty today on 11 of 32 counts. The five-member all-male military panel will now decide on punishment for Davis, who could face up to 32 years in prison and a dishonorable discharge. The convictions are generally for lesser charges than sought by military prosecutors and focus on allegations of indecent assault and obstruction of justice. Davis is one of three sergeants accused of sex-related crimes at the base in Darmstadt.

Ex-CIA Spy Sentenced to Prison

Confessed CIA double-agent Harold Nicholson was sentenced today to 23 years and seven months in prison for spying for Russia. Nicholson, 46, pleaded guilty on March 3 to selling national security secrets to Moscow for 2 1/2 years. He was the highest-ranking officer of the CIA ever convicted of spying. Nicholson told the court he deeply regretted having sold out his country but would not ask for forgiveness from his colleagues and fellow Americans because "I know they can't give it." Nicholson, a divorced father of three, said he had turned to selling secrets to the Russians to get money to compensate his children after his marriage failed.

Clinton Past May Be Aired

A lawyer for Paula Jones says he may bring up President Clinton's sexual history if it helps her sexual harassment suit. Gilbert Davis appeared on ABC today to respond to an announcement by Clinton's lawyer that he will not question Jones's sexual past if the case goes to trial. Jones has said an Arkansas state trooper invited her to a hotel room where then-Gov. Clinton allegedly propositioned her in 1991. Davis calls that a "modus operandi" to procure women, and he may use it to prove his case. As to the announcement that Clinton's lawyers won't probe Jones's past, Davis says he's very skeptical. Clinton has denied Jones's allegations.

Reeve Makes Impassioned Plea

Actor Christopher Reeve, paralyzed in a horse-riding accident two years ago, made an impassioned plea to Congress today to devote more money to research brain and spinal cord injuries. Addressing a Senate appropriations subcommittee on advances in research on brain and spinal cord injuries, the former "Superman" movie star said progress is being made to find a cure for these injuries but more funding is needed. "We must not stop this progress because we are unwilling to commit enough money to get the job done," he told the panel, which examines funding for medical research.

Kohl Thanks US For Post-WWII Aid

Chancellor Helmut Kohl, taking a break from political turmoil at home, formally thanked America today for its help rebuilding Europe after World War II and reuniting Germany after the Cold War. Kohl, speaking at ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the Marshall Plan that provided billions of U.S. dollars for European reconstruction, said the massive aid program had set Europe on a course of peace and prosperity. He delivered his remarks at a wreath-laying ceremony for former Secretary of State George Marshall, architect of the plan, at Arlington National Cemetery.

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