Campaign Finance

By Viveca Novak/Washington

The Justice Department's campaign-finance task force may soon confer immunity on ARIEF and SORAYA WIRIADINATAS, the Indonesian couple who were the largest individual donors to the D.N.C. in '96. The pair, who are closely tied to Lippo Group principals MOCHTAR and JAMES RIADY, say they gave $450,000 to the D.N.C. at the urging of JOHN HUANG (the money has since been returned). Though they could help build a case against Huang and others, they may opt not to play and remain in Indonesia. The task force, meanwhile, is pressuring frequent donor Johnny Chung, by threatening an indictment on tax and other charges, hoping for a guilty plea and his cooperation.

--By Viveca Novak/Washington