Torricelli calls federal probe 'unwarranted'

By Terry Frieden/CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-New Jersey, said Wednesday the ongoing federal investigation of his 1996 campaign is "unwarranted" and blamed his principal accuser of "wild accusations."

Torricelli's written statement, released by his Washington office, did not mention David Chang by name. Chang, a former political supporter and contributor, has told federal prosecutors Torricelli had knowledge of illegal campaign contributions, according to sources familiar with the probe.

"The totality of this investigation boils down to one thing -- the wholly unsupported statements of a man who has a history of lying, changing his story," Torricelli said.

In a telephone interview with CNN, Chang's New York attorney Bradley Simon rejected Torricelli's statement.

"Are you surprised by this? Torricelli is trying to everything he can to discredit David Chang," Simon said.

"Senator Torricelli certainly never hesitated to accept Mr. Chang's help over several years," Simon said.

Torricelli said he has been advised he is not personally a target of the ongoing probe by the Justice Department's Campaign Financing Task Force.

However, a government official tells CNN such a statement does not necessarily preclude the possibility that an individual could become a target as a case progresses.

"I am confident of the outcome of this investigation," Torricelli said in his statement.

"I am confident of the staff who worked on my 1996 campaign. It is unfair to subject the hardworking people of my campaign to this unwarranted investigation," Torricelli said.

David Chang, a member of the 1996 Torricelli campaign finance committee, pled guilty on June 2, 2000 for making illegal contributions to the Toricelli campaign. Chang also pled guilty to witness tampering in connection with the federal investigation into the campaign.

Three other New Jersey residents, Audrey Yu, Cha-Kuek Koo, and Berek Don, have pled guilty to federal charges in connection with the investigation of Torricelli's 1996 campaign.

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