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Related Links Key Player: Pauline Kanchanalak Kanchanalak Indicted In Fund-Raising Probe (Washington Post, July 14, 1998) Thai Woman Pleads Innocent to Campaign Rap By Bill Miller Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, July 30, 1998; Page A10 Thai businesswoman Pauline Kanchanalak, a central figure in the Justice Department's campaign finance investigation, pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges that she illegally channeled $679,000 in campaign contributions to the Democratic National Committee and various party candidates. Kanchanalak, 47, left the United States for her native Thailand in January 1997, at a time when her ties to major DNC donors were coming under scrutiny; her lawyer said she was "terrified" to be facing so much attention. She voluntarily returned to Washington from Bangkok on Tuesday so she could answer the charges contained in a 24-count indictment returned July 13. At the request of federal prosecutors, who said they feared Kanchanalak might flee the country, U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman yesterday ordered that she post a $250,000 bond, surrender her passport and remain in the United States until her trial. Kanchanalak left the courthouse here without comment. Her sister-in-law, Duangnet Kronenberg, 41, of McLean, also was charged in the indictment. Kronenberg pleaded not guilty last week and is free on personal recognizance. Kanchanalak's attorney, Reid H. Weingarten, asked that she, too, be released without bond. Among other things, Weingarten said that Kanchanalak plans to resettle in McLean, suffers from unspecified health problems and has only meager resources. Prosecutors raised objections, noting that Kanchanalak's husband remains in Thailand and that she has businesses there. "She has made it very clear that she can easily live in Thailand," said Jonathan Biran, a Justice Department lawyer, who asked that a $500,000 bond be set. "We would like to make sure she has incentive to stay here." Biran took issue with Weingarten's assessment of Kanchanalak's financial condition, contending she is adept at moving money and that bank records show hundreds of thousands of dollars flowing into accounts before her indictment. Kanchanalak and Kronenberg are accused of conspiracy, making false statements and other charges stemming from dozens of donations made from 1992 through 1996. Prosecutors said Kanchanalak, who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, was barred from making federal campaign contributions. She and Kronenberg also are accused of making illegal contributions on behalf of foreign businesses in which they had an interest. According to prosecutors, they hoped the money would gain access to President Clinton and others. As the money poured in, Kanchanalak rose to become a member of the DNC's finance board of directors and attended a series of major events, including President Clinton's 50th birthday gala and a White House coffee in which she introduced Clinton to three other Thai business leaders. Weingarten accused government lawyers of trying to build a criminal case from "a political scandal" and said Kanchanalak is confident of acquittal. © Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company Back to the top Go to Campaign Finance Report | Go to Politics Section