U.S. to Drop Part of Its Case Against Fund-Raiser

Federal prosecutors said Tuesday they will drop part of the criminal case against Democratic fund-raiser Yah Lin “Charlie” Trie, and a judge agreed to delay Trie’s trial on charges related to the 1996 Clinton-Gore reelection campaign.

Also Tuesday, another Clinton donor and fund-raiser, Pauline Kanchanalak, pleaded not guilty to a shortened list of federal charges related to her work for Democrats. Prosecutors dropped several charges against Kanchanalak and her sister-in-law last month.

Trie is charged with giving and arranging illegal political contributions to the Democratic National Committee to buy access to President Clinton and other top officials.

Federal prosecutor Geoffrey Hobart said at least six counts alleging Trie defrauded the DNC will be dropped “to streamline the case and make it more ready for trial.”

Hobart said Trie will likely be re-indicted next month on the remaining charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and witness tampering.

At a brief hearing, U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman postponed Trie’s trial from February until Sept. 13 of next year. The delay allows time for two appeals that affect Trie’s case.

Trie appeared at the hearing but did not speak beyond telling the judge he agrees to waive his right to a speedy trial.

Trie faces a separate trial in Arkansas next year for allegedly ordering an associate to hide documents subpoenaed during a Senate campaign-finance investigation.

The longtime Clinton friend closed his Little Rock, Ark., restaurant after Clinton’s 1992 election, and opened an international business consulting company.

Thanks to his fund-raising prowess, Trie frequently attended Democratic fund-raising dinners, lunches or coffees that featured Clinton or Vice President Al Gore.

Trie fled overseas when a congressional fund-raising probe began in 1997, then returned in February 1998 to face the charges.