Senate Scolds Torricelli

The Senate Ethics Committee has "severely admonished" New Jersey Senator Robert Torricelli for accepting gifts from a campaign contributor and businessman that he helped.

The six-member panel says Torricelli's actions created "at least the appearance of impropriety."

It says it is "troubled by incongruities, inconsistencies and conflicts" regarding Torricelli's actions, which could have helped David Chang.

He's the businessman serving an 18-month prison sentence for making illegal campaign donations to Torricelli's 1996 campaign.

Senate rules bar most gifts worth 50 dollars or more.

The allegations against Torricelli have figured prominently in the campaign of Republican Douglas Forrester, who is hoping to defeat Torricelli in the fall election.

Torricelli was told by the ethics panel that his acceptance of a television and stereo CD player from Chang after paying him less than their retail value "evidenced poor judgment (and) displayed a lack of due regard for Senate rules."

The panel also said Torricelli's acceptance as a loan from Chang of bronze statues of an eagle and a bronco buster for display in his office violated Senate rules and public disclosure requirements. It also cited gifts from Chang to Torricelli's sister, an employee and a friend in the lawmaker's home at Christmas violated Senate rules.

"Continuation of a personal and official relationship with Mr. Chang under circumstances where you knew that he was attempting to ingratiate himself ... over a period of years when you were taking official actions of benefit to Mr. Chang evidence poor judgment," the committee said in its unanimous findings.

The committee also ruled that Torricelli must compensate Chang for money he spent on the television and CD player, plus a pair of earrings, plus "appropriate interest."

The committee said it understands that Torricelli has delivered the bronze statues to the Justice Department, "from whence they should be returned to Mr. Chang."

The letter is among the punishments the ethics committee can mete out without seeking the consent of the full Senate.

Under Senate ethics rules, the committee may issue a public or private letter of admonition after a preliminary inquiry that uncovers an inadvertent or technical violation.

Torricelli has made several public statements denying that he received any gifts from Chang. But a source familiar with Torricelli's defense said this week the senator had acknowledged receiving some merchandise from Chang but contended he had reimbursed the businessman.

The Senate ethics manual states that a member "may rectify the inadvertent receipt of an impermissible gift by promptly returning it or reimbursing the donor for the full, fair market retail value."

Chang's lawyer, Bradley Simon, denied there were reimbursements.

"Never happened. It's fanciful thinking." Simon said. "But it's a nice try on his part. At this late hour, it's a nice try."