Charges Against Thai Political Donor Reinstated

A federal appeals court on Friday reinstated false-statement charges against a Thai businesswoman accused of funneling foreign contributions to the Democratic National Committee and other political committees.

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia reinstated the charges against Pauline Kanchanalak and her sister-in-law and business associate, Duangnet “Georgie” Kronenberg.

They were indicted last year by the Justice Department’s campaign finance task force.

The two are accused of using funds from foreign corporations and individuals to make prohibited campaign contributions of at least $679,000 to the DNC and other U.S. political committees.

Foreigners are barred from giving what is known as “hard” money intended for federal campaigns. Kanchanalak is a Thai citizen, while Kronenberg is a permanent resident and is entitled to make political contributions.

Friday’s appeals court ruling determined that citizens of foreign countries also are barred from giving “soft” money, which is money not intended for a particular federal campaign.

Kanchanalak and Kronenberg were charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the government by disguising the true source of the funds plus multiple counts of causing the DNC and other political committees to file false reports with the Federal Election Commission.

All of the false-statement charges except one count against Kronenberg were dismissed in two rulings late last year and early this year by U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman.