Hsi Lai Temple - 1996 Campaign Finance Controversy

1996 Campaign Finance Controversy

A campaign finance controversy centered on Hsi Lai Temple erupted during the 1996 presidential campaign. Vice President Al Gore attended a luncheon at the temple. The U.S. Justice Department alleged that Maria Hsia solicited $55,000 in donations for the Democratic National Committee the following day, which were later reimbursed with temple money. Non-profit groups are not allowed to make political contributions. Hsia was eventually convicted by a jury in March 2000 of making five false statements to the Federal Elections Commission and sentenced to 90 days home detention, a fine, and community service. The Democratic National Committee returned the money donated by the temple's monks and nuns. Twelve nuns and employees of the temple, including then-abbess Venerable Yi Kung who would later resign from the abbotship because of the scandal, refused to answer questions by pleading the Fifth Amendment when they were subpoenaed to testify before Congress in 1997.

Following Hsia's conviction, Republican National Committee Chairman Jim Nicholson said, "it's time to get beyond the small fry and take on the major players (in the scandal) like Al Gore." No other players in the controversy were ever convicted, although two nuns (Venerables Yi Chu and Man Ho) were indicted for failing to appear at Hsia's trial and are believed to have left for Taiwan and have not returned to the United States since.