Supreme Court declines to review campaign finance case
Oct. 15, 2002
By GINA HOLLAND
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court passed up a chance Tuesday to use a Clinton-era fund-raising case to consider whether people can be punished for breaking a campaign finance law they say they didn't understand.
Justices refused to review a challenge from California immigration consultant Maria Hsia, who was implicated in illegal fund-raising at a Buddhist temple event attended by then-Vice President Al Gore.
Hsia, a native of Taiwan, was sentenced to three months of home confinement for causing false statements to be filed with the Federal Election Commission. She was also fined and ordered to complete community service for five felony convictions.
More than $100,000 was illegally raised for Democrats at the 1996 event. Hsia's attorney argued that she did not know she was violating complex campaign finance rules with her activities. They said she was not guilty of "willfulness" under a 30-year-old campaign law.
Hsia's case does not involve the new campaign finance law, which is being contested in a lower court and could reach the Supreme Court early next year.
The Bush administration conceded that appeals courts have reached different conclusions on what the government must prove in cases like hers. At the same time, the administration urged the court to let Hsia's convictions stand. Justices did, without commenting.
Solicitor General Theodore Olson said Hsia used nuns, monks and even herself as "straw contributors" to get around campaign laws.
Hsia's attorney, Nancy Luque, said the case was a "chilling threat to core First Amendment values." She also asked the Supreme Court to decide if such violations should be punished administratively, with fines, or in court - with potential prison time.
She said the prosecutions discourage people from getting involved in political campaigns.
The controversy over the Buddhist fund-raiser became an issue in Gore's 2000 campaign against George W. Bush. Gore's videotaped appearance at the event was used against him by the Republican Party.
Hsia had raised money for Gore for more than a decade. She could have been sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.
The case is Hsia v. United States, 01-1695.
