Buddhist nuns indicted for failure to testify in trial of Democratic fund-raiser

By Terry Frieden/CNN

April 5, 2000
Web posted at: 3:25 p.m. EDT (1925 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two Buddhist nuns were indicted Wednesday on contempt of court charges for failing to appear as witnesses in the trial of Maria Hsia, who was convicted in March of campaign law violations in connection with a 1996 Democratic fund-raising event at the Hsi Lai Buddhist temple in California.

Vice President Al Gore's appearance at the event and his association with Hsia has continued to dog Gore in his presidential bid.

Although the nuns did not appear for the trial on January 28 as ordered, Hsia was convicted of providing false information to the Federal Election Commission about the true source of donations-- some of which were laundered through the nuns-- by having them write personal checks and then reimbursing them.

The two nuns, Venerables Yi Chu and Man Ho are believed to be in Taiwan, according to Justice Department officials.

"We do not have an extradition treaty with Taiwan, but we will make every effort to return them to the U.S. for prosecution," said Justice Department spokesman John Russell.

The two had been subpoenaed in May, 1998. On January 24, 2000 a federal judge refused to quash the subpoenas and ordered them to appear four days later to testify. Government prosecutors from the Campaign Financing Task Force wanted the nuns' testimony to bolster their case against Hsia.

"No person is above the law and no one can ignore a subpoena compelling her to appear at trial," said Task Force Chief Robert Conrad, Jr. in a statement released by the Justice Department.