U.S. to Drop Kim’s Charges

U.S. prosecutors gave notice Monday that they intend to dismiss charges stemming from the Salt Lake City Olympic corruption scandal against Jung Hoon “John” Kim, the son of one of the International Olympic Committee’s most powerful delegates.

Kim, 44, son of IOC Vice President Kim Un Yong of South Korea, had been indicted in September 1999 on charges that he lied to the FBI and used a fraudulently obtained green card to repeatedly enter the United States. The younger Kim has been in custody in Bulgaria since May; he has fought extradition to the United States.

The action in John Kim’s case comes 10 days after the case against the two leaders of the Salt Lake bid, Tom Welch and Dave Johnson, was tossed out of court in midtrial. Sentencing hearings await two others, former U.S. Olympic committee official Alfredo LaMont and Salt Lake businessman David Simmons, who entered into tax count-related plea bargains with the government and then testified against Welch and Johnson.

The younger Kim has consistently maintained that he knew nothing of value to prosecutors -- and that, if he did, he would never testify.

“Although I knew nothing, I am happy I am not considered a rat. I can walk away with my dignity and my manhood in place,” John Kim said Monday on the phone from Sofia, Bulgaria.

John Kim said he had been informed by his U.S. attorneys -- led by Zachary Carter of New York -- that charges are being dismissed and that the request for extradition is being withdrawn. Carter declined to comment when reached late Monday by phone. U.S. Department of Justice officials did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Simmons and LaMont expect to receive reduced sentences. Thus, John Kim may ultimately be the only figure to do jail time connected to the scandal -- and at that, as he has said, in Bulgaria. A hearing in Sofia in his case is set for Wednesday.

Ten IOC members resigned or were expelled in connection with the scandal, which came to light in late 1998 amid revelations that Salt Lake’s campaign to win the 2002 Winter Games included more than $1 million in cash, gifts and other inducements for IOC members or their relatives.