Changes

In 1978, Passman was implicated in the Tongsun Park scandal, by which time his congressional service had already ended a year earlier. Media reports of the scandal began in 1975–1976, and they worked to sink Passman's reelection. A South Korean businessman, Tongsun Park described himself as an "American success story," when he came to the attention of the [[FBI]]. Park lavished valuable gifts to prominent politicians in an influence peddling scheme known as "Koreagate."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.congressionalbadboys.com/Koreagate.htm|title=Koreagate|publisher=congressionalbadboys|accessdate=June 20, 2014}}</ref> The scandal involved alleged [[bribery]] of over a hundred sitting or former members of Congress, including Louisiana Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]. In April 1978, Park sat before [[television]] cameras in a U.S. House hearing and listed a long list of payments — mostly in cash — to some thirty members of Congress. He said that he had given the money in little white envelopes. Only ten members of Congress were seriously implicated. Three avoided prosecution through the expiration of the [[statute of limitations]]. Passman was not immediately prosecuted because of illness.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' p. 341.</ref>​

In 1978, Passman was implicated in the Tongsun Park scandal, by which time his congressional service had already ended a year earlier. Media reports of the scandal began in 1975–1976, and they worked to sink Passman's reelection. A South Korean businessman, Tongsun Park described himself as an "American success story," when he came to the attention of the [[FBI]]. Park lavished valuable gifts to prominent politicians in an influence peddling scheme known as "Koreagate."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.congressionalbadboys.com/Koreagate.htm|title=Koreagate|publisher=congressionalbadboys|accessdate=June 20, 2014}}</ref> The scandal involved alleged [[bribery]] of over a hundred sitting or former members of Congress, including Louisiana Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]. In April 1978, Park sat before [[television]] cameras in a U.S. House hearing and listed a long list of payments — mostly in cash — to some thirty members of Congress. He said that he had given the money in little white envelopes. Only ten members of Congress were seriously implicated. Three avoided prosecution through the expiration of the [[statute of limitations]]. Passman was not immediately prosecuted because of illness.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' p. 341.</ref>​

 

Thereafter, the Justice Department in 1978 indicted Passman, the biggest recipient of Park's largess &ndash; $213,000. He was charged with conspiracy, bribery, and accepting an illegal gratuity. The indictment was expanded to include tax evasion. Because of the tax evasion charge, Passman was able, through his [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] attorney, [[Camille Gravel]], to get the case transferred to Monroe. While Passman had been defeated for reelection in 1976, there was still a reservoir of good feeling for him in many quarters of Monroe.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' pp. 341-342.</ref> Passman's physician said that the former representative suffered from organic brain disease and [[Depression (mood)|depression]] and preferred [[suicide]] to standing trial.<ref>"Doctor says Passman prefers suicide to trial," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' June 22, 1978, p. 1.</ref>​

Thereafter, the Justice Department in 1978 indicted Passman, the biggest recipient of Park's largess &ndash; $213,000. He was charged with conspiracy, bribery, and accepting an illegal gratuity. The indictment was expanded to include tax evasion. Because of the tax evasion charge, Passman was able, through his [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] [[attorney]], [[Camille Gravel]], to get the case transferred to Monroe. While Passman had been defeated for reelection in 1976, there was still a reservoir of good feeling for him in many quarters of Monroe.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' pp. 341-342.</ref> Passman's physician said that the former representative suffered from organic brain disease and [[Depression (mood)|depression]] and preferred [[suicide]] to standing trial.<ref>"Doctor says Passman prefers suicide to trial," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' June 22, 1978, p. 1.</ref>​

 

Attorney William G. Hundley, a former investigator of [[organized crime]] for the U.S. Justice Department, offered these observations of the Passman trial:​

Attorney William G. Hundley, a former investigator of [[organized crime]] for the U.S. Justice Department, offered these observations of the Passman trial:​

​

​

I went there for the trial and I'd go into restaurants with Park and people would get up and leave. I called the defense lawyer, who happened to be a pretty good friend of mine, and said, "What do you think a Monroe, Louisiana, jury is going to think of Tongsun Park?" He said, I don't know. I was taken aback. What do you mean you don't know? You've tried a million cases here. "I don't think they've ever seen a Korean before," he said.<br>​

I went there for the trial and I'd go into restaurants with Park and people would get up and leave. I called the defense lawyer, who happened to be a pretty good friend of mine, and said, "What do you think a Monroe, Louisiana, jury is going to think of Tongsun Park?" He said, I don't know. I was taken aback. What do you mean you don't know? You've tried a million cases here. "I don't think they've ever seen a Korean before," he said.<br>​

​

​

I thought the prosecution presented a pretty good case. But when the defense attorney got up to cross-examine Tongsun Park, he carried a big map of Korea. He didn't even touch the merits of the case. He identified South Korea and noted that it's right under [[North Korea]] and next to [[China]]. Then he pointed out that North Korea and China are [[totalitarian]] communist states. The jury was out less than 90 minutes, and they [sic] acquitted Passman on every charge.<ref>"Louisiana History'', p. 342.</ref></blockquote>​

I thought the prosecution presented a pretty good case. But when the defense attorney got up to cross-examine Tongsun Park, he carried a big map of Korea. He didn't even touch the merits of the case. He identified South Korea and noted that it's right under [[North Korea]] and next to [[China]]. Then he pointed out that North Korea and China are [[totalitarian]] communist states. The jury was out less than 90 minutes, and they [sic] acquitted Passman on every charge.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' p. 342.</ref></blockquote>​

 

Passman lived another nine years after the acquittal.​

Passman lived another nine years after the acquittal.​

​

​