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CNN Live Sunday
Lieberman Wants Leung-Republican Party Connection Investigated
Aired April 27, 2003 - 17:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Democratic presidential candidate Joe Lieberman has asked the Justice Department to find out if an accused spy for China funneled money from the Chinese government to the Republican party. Lieberman, of course, is the ranking minority member of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. He wants an investigation of accused double agent Katrina Leung, who once worked as a political fund-raiser for Republicans.
CNN's Charles Feldman has more on the case against Ms. Leung.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She was everywhere. At this 1997 banquet in Los Angeles, in honor of the president of China.
KATRINA LEUNG: Are you ready for the surprises? Then you better be quiet.
FELDMAN: Reportedly, at a controversial Democratic Party fund- raiser attended by Al Gore, with former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan at the handover of Hong Kong to China. Forty-nine-year old Katrina Leung showed up in federal court in L.A., where she was denied bail on espionage-related charges.
JANET LEVIN, LEUNG ATTORNEY: This is a complex case. The facts of this case take place over a period of 20-some years.
FELDMAN: The facts of the case, of course, depend upon whom you listen to. The only thing not in dispute is that Leung, a prominent Chinese-American and political activist, was hired by the FBI some 20 years ago to spy on Chinese officials. She was paid nearly $2 million for her work over two decades.
(on camera): But federal prosecutors claim Leung was actually a double agent, making off with top-secret documents from her FBI handler, a married agent she was allegedly having an affair with for almost the entire time. She, too, is married.
(voice-over): They've both been arrested, the former FBI agent for gross negligence, for leaving the documents in easy reach, she for turning over the material to Chinese intelligence agents. And prosecutors say Leung also had a sexual relationship with a second FBI agent who has since retired. He has not been charged. U.S. government sources tell CNN that Leung allegedly compromised a major nuclear espionage case by giving Chinese officials the names of two FBI agents. And also, apparently, tipped off the Chinese government that the U.S. had planted listening devices on a Boeing 767 used by the president of China.
Leung's lawyers claim anything she gave the Chinese was disinformation the FBI wanted her to give them. Beyond any doubt is that Katrina Leung was a woman to be reckoned with.
REP. DAVID DREIER (R), CALIFORNIA: I would describe her as a strong, dynamic, intelligent, hard-working, energetic individual who was very encouraging and supportive of me and people with whom I share a political philosophy.
FELDMAN: Congressman David Dreier is one of many national and regional politicians who has received donations from Leung.
DREIER: If the reports that we have gotten are true, it is despicable and horrifying.
FELDMAN: A full damage assessment has yet to be made. And the investigation is continuing.
(on camera): Although the FBI L.A. field office denies it, sources say a current FBI agent here is being investigated in connection with the Leung case.
Charles Feldman, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Investigated>
Aired April 27, 2003 - 17:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Democratic presidential candidate Joe Lieberman has asked the Justice Department to find out if an accused spy for China funneled money from the Chinese government to the Republican party. Lieberman, of course, is the ranking minority member of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. He wants an investigation of accused double agent Katrina Leung, who once worked as a political fund-raiser for Republicans.
CNN's Charles Feldman has more on the case against Ms. Leung.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She was everywhere. At this 1997 banquet in Los Angeles, in honor of the president of China.
KATRINA LEUNG: Are you ready for the surprises? Then you better be quiet.
FELDMAN: Reportedly, at a controversial Democratic Party fund- raiser attended by Al Gore, with former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan at the handover of Hong Kong to China. Forty-nine-year old Katrina Leung showed up in federal court in L.A., where she was denied bail on espionage-related charges.
JANET LEVIN, LEUNG ATTORNEY: This is a complex case. The facts of this case take place over a period of 20-some years.
FELDMAN: The facts of the case, of course, depend upon whom you listen to. The only thing not in dispute is that Leung, a prominent Chinese-American and political activist, was hired by the FBI some 20 years ago to spy on Chinese officials. She was paid nearly $2 million for her work over two decades.
(on camera): But federal prosecutors claim Leung was actually a double agent, making off with top-secret documents from her FBI handler, a married agent she was allegedly having an affair with for almost the entire time. She, too, is married.
(voice-over): They've both been arrested, the former FBI agent for gross negligence, for leaving the documents in easy reach, she for turning over the material to Chinese intelligence agents. And prosecutors say Leung also had a sexual relationship with a second FBI agent who has since retired. He has not been charged. U.S. government sources tell CNN that Leung allegedly compromised a major nuclear espionage case by giving Chinese officials the names of two FBI agents. And also, apparently, tipped off the Chinese government that the U.S. had planted listening devices on a Boeing 767 used by the president of China.
Leung's lawyers claim anything she gave the Chinese was disinformation the FBI wanted her to give them. Beyond any doubt is that Katrina Leung was a woman to be reckoned with.
REP. DAVID DREIER (R), CALIFORNIA: I would describe her as a strong, dynamic, intelligent, hard-working, energetic individual who was very encouraging and supportive of me and people with whom I share a political philosophy.
FELDMAN: Congressman David Dreier is one of many national and regional politicians who has received donations from Leung.
DREIER: If the reports that we have gotten are true, it is despicable and horrifying.
FELDMAN: A full damage assessment has yet to be made. And the investigation is continuing.
(on camera): Although the FBI L.A. field office denies it, sources say a current FBI agent here is being investigated in connection with the Leung case.
Charles Feldman, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Investigated>
