SALON

Friday, Feb 8, 2013 7:07 PM UTC

Ethics probe: Congressman’s Taiwan trip likely broke the law

Rep. Bill Owens, D-N.Y., appears to have accepted gifts from the Taiwanese government

By

Topics: ProPublica, Taiwain, Jack Abramoff, Bill Owens, New York, ,

Ethics probe: Congressman's Taiwan trip likely broke the lawRep. Bill Owens, D-N.Y., left, surrounded by his family members. (Credit: AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
This originally appeared on ProPublica.

ProPublica A congressional ethics investigation into a Democratic representative’s trip to Taiwan found “substantial reason to believe” the trip violated federal law because it was paid for by the Taiwanese government.

The investigation was launched following a ProPublica story on the 2011 trip by Rep. Bill Owens, D-N.Y., and his wife. The probe was conducted by the Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent body made up of former members of Congress and other citizens that can make recommendations to the official House ethics committee.

Along with releasing the independent report, the official committee said Wednesday it is still reviewing the matter to determine whether to launch its own full-blown investigation. The committee could ultimately recommend penalties to the full House.

At the heart of the Owens case is the question of who paid for and organized the trip to Taiwan. Members of Congress are barred from accepting most gifts, including travel expenses, from foreign governments. (That rule goes back to a constitutional ban on such gifts.) Lobbyists also may not organize most congressional trips, a reform instituted after the Jack Abramoff scandal.

Owens’ office originally said the trip — which included stays at luxury hotels, visits to tourist attractions, and meetings with Taiwanese officials — was paid for by a school called the Chinese Culture University. But ethics investigators found “substantial reason to believe” that the trip was in fact paid for by the Taiwanese government, “resulting in an impermissible gift, in violation of federal law and House rules.” Investigators also found substantial reason to believe that the Owens trip was organized by Taiwan’s lobbyists.

A response from the Washington law firm retained by Owens, Perkins Coie, disputed the report’s findings. Owens announced after ProPublica’s story came out last year that, “in an abundance of caution,” he was reimbursing the university for the $22,000 cost of the trip.

Disclosure forms show 15 congressional staffers and representatives taking similar trips to Taiwan and also with the Chinese Culture University listed as the sponsor. The trips go back to 2006 and total roughly $125,000 in expenses.

Taiwan has many interests before the U.S. government, for example its perennial goal to acquire more advanced weaponry as part of the billions of dollars in annual American arms sales to the country. Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou raised the issue of acquiring new F-16 jets in his meeting with Owens.

Taiwan is behind only Israel on the list of popular foreign destinations for congressional trips, according to LegiStorm, which tracks travel data. Another school there, Fu Jen Catholic University, has reported paying more than $500,000 for dozens of trips since 2005.

Neither Taiwan nor the Chinese Culture University cooperated with investigators from the Office of Congressional Ethics. Taiwanese officials did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

According to the ethics report, Owens had limited contact — primarily a dinner — with officials from the purported sponsor, the Chinese Culture University. In contrast, Taiwanese government officials were involved throughout: they organized the trip; met Owens and his wife at the airport; accompanied the congressman for the entire trip; and paid bills for hotels and airfare.

The report quotes an unnamed witness with knowledge of Owens’ travel arrangements alleging that Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs purchased the Owens’ plane tickets.

It quotes an employee of the Regent Taipei Hotel saying that the foreign ministry settled the Owens’ bill. That employee later sent an unprompted follow-up to the ethics investigators saying that she believed the university may have later reimbursed the ministry for the cost. When asked by investigators how she knew this, the employeerecommended investigators contact the ministry. Investigators could not determine whether the ministry was ever reimbursed.

The report also cites an email trail, first reported by ProPublica, showing Taiwanese officials and the country’s American lobbyists ironing out details with Owens’ staff in the weeks leading up to the trip.

An itinerary given to Owens includes both a Taiwanese government contact and a note to “keep your boarding passes for all domestic and international flights and return them to TECRO. We need to have those passes for accounting purpose [sic].” TECRO, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, is Taiwan’s de facto embassy in the U.S.

At one dinner during the trip, a Taiwanese government official even “prompted [Owens] to thank the Chinese Culture University,” according to the congressman’s testimony to ethics investigators.

The Office of Congressional Ethics recommended that the House ethics committee issue subpoenas to three of Taiwan’s lobbyists in the U.S. because of their refusal to cooperate. The trio are employees of Park Strategies and include the founder of the firm, former Sen. Al D’Amato, who helped organize the Owens trip.

In the wake of the ethics probe, Taiwan terminated its $20,000-per-month contract with Park.

Update Feb. 7, 9:30 p.m. A spokesman for TECRO told ProPublica that all of the trips to Taiwan, including the Owens trip, “conformed with U.S. laws and regulations.” In the Owens case, “the government paid for some of the trip — and then the university reimbursed the government,” the spokesman said, declining to comment further.

The ethics investigators could not confirm whether any reimbursement was actually made and noted that “Even if the Chinese Culture University made such a reimbursement, it is not clear whether Representative Owens could have accepted a gift of travel that was initially paid for by an impermissible source.”

Justin Elliott

Justin Elliott is a reporter for ProPublica. You can follow him on Twitter @ElliottJustin More Justin Elliott.

You Might Also Like

More Related Stories

Featured Slide Shows

7 motorist-friendly camping sites

close X
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 9

Sponsored Post

  • White River National Forest via Lower Crystal Lake, Colorado
    For those OK with the mainstream, White River Forest welcomes more than 10 million visitors a year, making it the most-visited recreation forest in the nation. But don’t hate it for being beautiful; it’s got substance, too. The forest boasts 8 wilderness areas, 2,500 miles of trail, 1,900 miles of winding service system roads, and 12 ski resorts (should your snow shredders fit the trunk space). If ice isn’t your thing: take the tire-friendly Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway — 82 miles connecting the towns of Meeker and Yampa, half of which is unpaved for you road rebels.
    fs.usda.gov/whiteriveryou


    Image credit: Getty

  • Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest via Noontootla Creek, Georgia
    Boasting 10 wildernesses, 430 miles of trail and 1,367 miles of trout-filled stream, this Georgia forest is hailed as a camper’s paradise. Try driving the Ridge and Valley Scenic Byway, which saw Civil War battles fought. If the tall peaks make your engine tremble, opt for the relatively flat Oconee National Forest, which offers smaller hills and an easy trail to the ghost town of Scull Shoals. Scaredy-cats can opt for John’s Mountain Overlook, which leads to twin waterfalls for the sensitive sightseer in you.
    fs.usda.gov/conf


    Image credit: flickr/chattoconeenf

  • Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area via Green Road, Michigan
    The only national forest in Lower Michigan, the Huron-Mainstee spans nearly 1 million acres of public land. Outside the requisite lush habitat for fish and wildlife on display, the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is among the biggest hooks for visitors: offering beach camping with shores pounded by big, cerulean surf. Splash in some rum and you just might think you were in the Caribbean.
    fs.usda.gov/hmnf


    Image credit: umich.edu

  • Canaan Mountain via Backcountry Canaan Loop Road, West Virginia
    A favorite hailed by outdoorsman and author Johnny Molloy as some of the best high-country car camping sites anywhere in the country, you don’t have to go far to get away. Travel 20 miles west of Dolly Sods (among the busiest in the East) to find the Canaan Backcountry (for more quiet and peace). Those willing to leave the car for a bit and foot it would be remiss to neglect day-hiking the White Rim Rocks, Table Rock Overlook, or the rim at Blackwater River Gorge.
    fs.usda.gov/mnf


    Image credit: Getty

  • Mt. Rogers NRA via Hurricane Creek Road, North Carolina
    Most know it as the highest country they’ll see from North Carolina to New Hampshire. What they may not know? Car campers can get the same grand experience for less hassle. Drop the 50-pound backpacks and take the highway to the high country by stopping anywhere on the twisting (hence the name) Hurricane Road for access to a 15-mile loop that boasts the best of the grassy balds. It’s the road less travelled, and the high one, at that.
    fs.usda.gov/gwj


    Image credit: wikipedia.org

  • Long Key State Park via the Overseas Highway, Florida
    Hiking can get old; sometimes you’d rather paddle. For a weekend getaway of the coastal variety and quieter version of the Florida Keys that’s no less luxe, stick your head in the sand (and ocean, if snorkeling’s your thing) at any of Long Key’s 60 sites. Canoes and kayaks are aplenty, as are the hot showers and electric power source amenities. Think of it as the getaway from the typical getaway.
    floridastateparks.org/longkey/default.cfm


    Image credit: floridastateparks.org

  • Grand Canyon National Park via Crazy Jug Point, Arizona
    You didn’t think we’d neglect one of the world’s most famous national parks, did you? Nor would we dare lead you astray with one of the busiest parts of the park. With the Colorado River still within view of this cliff-edge site, Crazy Jug is a carside camper’s refuge from the troops of tourists. Find easy access to the Bill Hall Trail less than a mile from camp, and descend to get a peek at the volcanic Mt. Trumbull. (Fear not: It’s about as active as your typical lazy Sunday in front of the tube, if not more peaceful.)
    fs.usda.gov/kaibab


    Image credit: flickr/Irish Typepad

  • As the go-to (weekend) getaway car for fiscally conscious field trips with friends, the 2013 MINI Convertible is your campground racer of choice, allowing you and up to three of your co-pilots to take in all the beauty of nature high and low. And with a fuel efficiency that won’t leave you in the latter, you won’t have to worry about being left stranded (or awkwardly asking to go halfsies on gas expenses).


    Image credit: miniusa.com

  • Recent Slide Shows

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 9

Related Videos

Comments

 1 Comments

Comment Preview

Your name will appear as username ( settings | log out )

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href=""> <b> <em> <strong> <i> <blockquote>

follow salon

Most Read

Popular on Reddit

links from salon.com

From Around the Web

Presented by Scribol
listener_new_rect The Listener: "The Joker": Laughing at life's deepest sorrows