Riady had a permanent green card and was a Clinton acquaintance from the 1980s when Riady worked in Arkansas. After Clinton's election, Riady was an occasional visitor to the White House, where he got direct access to Clinton. White House officials said Clinton had no reason to suspect the donations. To suggest that, based upon the routine briefing memo to then-Governor Clinton, is truly absurd.'' The AP made a weeklong effort to reach Riady, but a spokesman said Monday he was still unavailable for comment. In the past, Riady has said he believes his donations were legal.
Federal law forbids U.S. candidates and parties from accepting foreign money.
The law allows foreigners who are legally and permanently residing in the United States to make donations. U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies can only donate if they use funds generated inside the United States. The memo to Clinton clearly noted that Riady had moved from the United States. And some of the donations were written from Lippo Bank in California on what appear to be starter or counter checks lacking the normal numbering of a personal checkbook. Potter said that in 1992, most fund-raisers would have accepted a green card as reason enough to accept a donation.