Questions for AFL-CIO's Richard Trumka

On November 17, 1997, the U.S. District Court-appointed Election Officer overseeing the Teamsters issued a report that stated AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka illegally used $200,000 to aid Ron Carey in the 1996 election for Teamsters President. To avoid testifying to the Election Officer about possible criminal acts, Trumka invoked the Fifth Amendment.

A 1957 AFL-CIO rule mandates expulsion of union officials who use the Fifth for "personal protection and to avoid scrutiny...into alleged corruption on his part." This rule was used as recently as 1991. On November 21, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney refused to expel Trumka. Yet, at the AFL-CIO's January Executive Council session, Sweeney said, there is "no room in the labor movement for corruption or any wrongdoing. I would hope whatever the allegations are they could be cleared up as fast as possible."

Given these facts, Richard Trumka should be asked these seven questions:

1. The Teamsters Election Officer's November 17 report alleged that you, Richard Trumka, helped confessed criminal Martin Davis move $150,000 of Teamsters general treasury funds through the AFL-CIO to Citizen Action which routed $100,000 back to Davis' firm for Carey campaign expenses. Did you illegally launder $150,000 of Teamsters general treasury funds for the Carey campaign? If so, why?

2. The Teamsters Election Officer's November 17 report alleged that you, Richard Trumka, worked with confessed criminals Martin Davis and Jere Nash to raise $50,000 for the Carey campaign. The Election Officer stated that your action was a violation of Teamsters Election Rules which prohibit high-ranking officials of unions other than the Teamsters from contributing or soliciting funds for a Teamsters candidate. Did you unlawfully contribute and/or raise $50,000 for the Carey campaign? If so, why?

3. The Teamsters Election Officer's November 17 report alleged that AFSCME President Gerald McEntee and SEIU President Andrew Stern committed, as you did, Richard Trumka, to working with confessed criminals Martin Davis and Jere Nash to raise $50,000 for the Carey campaign. McEntee reportedly raised $20,000 and Stern $0. The Election Officer stated that this action was a violation of Teamsters Election Rules which prohibit high-ranking officials of unions other than the Teamsters from contributing or soliciting funds for a Teamsters candidate. Are you aware of any such actions by McEntee and/or by Stern? If so, will you disclose all of what you know of such actions?

4. Why did you, Richard Trumka, take the Fifth Amendment in this federal investigation in union corruption? Are you protecting yourself or someone else? What are you hiding from the public and union members?

5. Why don't you, Richard Trumka, step down from your AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer post due to the use of the Fifth Amendment for "personal protection and to avoid scrutiny...into alleged corruption on [your] part" as a AFL-CIO rule mandates?

6. Recently, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney has stated there is "no room in the labor movement for corruption or any wrongdoing. I would hope whatever the allegations are they could be cleared up as fast as possible." If the Teamsters Election Officer's allegations are true, why don't you, Richard Trumka, come forward with the whole truth, nothing but the truth, and clear up the Teamsters/AFL-CIO scandals as fast as possible?

7. Since AFL-CIO President John Sweeney has not expelled you, Richard Trumka, from the AFL-CIO for using the Fifth Amendment for "personal protection and to avoid scrutiny...into alleged corruption on [your] part" as a AFL-CIO rule mandates, what is Sweeney's threshold for your expulsion? Will Sweeney expel you, Richard Trumka, from the AFL-CIO if the U.S. Attorney investigating the Teamsters indicts you on criminal charges?

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