PRINT THIS PAGE | E-MAIL THIS PAGE

Friday, September 26, 1997

Wilson vigorously denies taking any kickbacks while in Congress

By MICHELLE MITTELSTADT / Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Texas Rep. Charlie Wilson on Thursday denied allegations that he accepted kickbacks from an arms dealer while in Congress and said he is unaware of a Justice Department investigation into the matter.

"I categorically and emphatically deny that I have ever accepted or received any promise, commitment or payment of any kind for any of my activities or positions as a member of Congress," Wilson said in a prepared statement he read to The Associated Press.

Wilson, 64, is one possible target of the investigation by the Justice Department criminal division's public integrity section, a Justice official said Thursday on condition of anonymity.

The Justice probe remained under wraps until earlier this week when Switzerland's supreme court agreed to accede to a 1995 request by the United States for assistance in the investigation. Wilson had remained silent after the first news reports came Tuesday.

Swiss court documents said the Justice Department is investigating allegations that a U.S. congressman, referred to only by his last initial "W," had received kickbacks for his role in arms sales to Afghan rebels in the 1980s.

Wilson, a Lufkin Democrat who retired from Congress last year after 24 years, was a staunch supporter of the Mujaheddin rebels who drove the Soviet invaders out of Afghanistan. He was widely credited with prodding Congress to arm the rebels.

"Any suggestion that my support for the Mujaheddin was for any other purpose than to assist their cause in driving the invading Communists from their home would be absolutely and categorically false, to say nothing of profoundly offensive to me," Wilson said.

A flamboyant, fun-loving presence on Capitol Hill, Wilson's conduct has been scrutinized before -- a fact he referenced Thursday. "If there is, in fact, some investigation of me and my support for the Afghan Mujaheddin while I was in Congress, it will close like all other inquiries of my conduct -- with a conclusion that I've done nothing wrong," Wilson said.

"Let me remind you that these (newspaper) articles are news to me and, as far as I know, I have not been accused of anything," he added.

Switzerland's supreme court, in its ruling Tuesday, authorized the Swiss government to give Washington complete assistance in the investigation, which typically means handing over bank papers and other evidence.

Wilson denied holding any money in Swiss banks. "I do not now have, nor have I ever had, any interest, money or ownership in any foreign bank account," he said.

According to the Swiss court documents, congressman "W" allegedly shared a "commission" of several million dollars with a Texas business partner, whose last name begins with "C." The money was paid by a company that supplied arms to the rebels.

The case goes back to 1983, when Congress approved $40 million in secret aid to buy weapons for the rebels in their war against Soviet occupying forces, the court said.

According to the court documents, most of the money was spent on anti-aircraft guns provided by a company identified only as "X. Ltd."

The court said congressman "W" spoke out in favor of purchasing the weapons from company "X.," and persuaded the House to go along.

"The firm X. Ltd. paid ("W" and his partner) a commission of about $3.5 million-$4 million, with payments transacted through a number of American companies and their accounts with Swiss banks," court documents said.

The United States alleges the money was paid long after the congressional vote, although "W" had received a commitment for the money at the time of the arms purchase.

The court also rejected an appeal from the partner, owner of a Swiss bank account, who characterized the U.S. case as mere speculation.

The Justice official said that while the U.S. government is waiting for the Swiss to answer the 1995 request for information, the countdown on statutes of limitation that would bar prosecution, usually five years after an offense, are suspended. If prosecutors are weighing conspiracy charges, they would have less reason for worry about any statute of limitations, but those countdowns don't begin until the conspiracy ends.