HEARING SUMMARY REPORT BY MAJORITY STAFF
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
AFTERNOON SESSION, SEPTEMBER 9, 1997
Witness: Donald Fowler
Former Co-chairman, Democratic National Committee
- The DNC requested, on behalf of Fowler, that a National Security Council staff member
meet with Eric Hotung, who had offered a large donation to the DNC if such a meeting
could be set up, and a photo opportunity occurred between Hotung and Deputy National
Security Advisor Sandy Berger
- Although Fowler issued a press release in March 1997 that he did not call or contact the
CIA to ask them to supply information to the NSC staff on behalf of businessman Roger
Tamraz who was seeking Administration support for an oil pipeline development, Fowler
told the Committee he could not remember whether he ever contacted the CIA on behalf
of Tamraz
- DNC Finance Committee Director Richard Sullivan's notes indicate that Tamraz asked
Fowler to call the CIA
- Fowler wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Rubin after some Indian tribes contacted him
seeking to change the rules on §401(k) plans
- Fowler also wrote Secretary Rubin on behalf of a DNC about foreign sales under the tax
code
- Fowler called the Chief of Staff of the Commerce Department on behalf of a DNC donor
seeking reexamination of a grant award
- Fowler called US Trade Representative Mickey Kantor regarding banana import rules on
behalf of Carl Lindner of Chiquita Banana