Changes

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 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 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 George Hundley (1925-2006), a former investigator of [[organized crime]] for the U.S. Justice Department, offered these observations of the Passman trial:​

Attorney William George Hundley (1925-2006), a former investigator of [[organized crime]] for the U.S. Justice Department, offered these observations of the Passman trial:

{{quotebox|​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.​

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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>}}

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.​