October 28, 1996

Attorney General Janet Reno
Department of Justice
Room 5111
Constitution Ave. & 10th St., NW
Washington, DC 20530

CERTIFIED MAIL-RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

Dear General Reno:

The Democratic National Committee has received $800,000 in "soft money" contributions from the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) since President Clinton took office. Since 1993, LIUNA's political action committee has contributed over $2 million to political allies of the President running for Congress.

The LIUNA General President is Arthur Coia, who the U.S. Department of Justice has identified as being "associated with and controlled by organized crime."

A 1994 Justice Department draft Complaint asserted that:

"LIUNA has been infiltrated at all levels by corrupt
individuals and organized crime figures who have exploited
their control and influence over the union for personal gain
and to the detriment of the union. LIUNA union officers and
employees at all levels, including the general presidency,
have been chosen, subject to the approval of, and have been
controlled by, various members and associates of organized
crime."

Over the past two decades, more than 80 LIUNA officials have been convicted of crimes, including racketeering, bribery extortion, tax evasion, and attempted murder.

The appearance is that the U.S. Department of Justice is allowing continued mob control of LIUNA because it is an enormous source of political contributions for the President and his allies. The U.S. Justice Department has an obligation to enforce the law. This is a formal request that the Department remove Arthur Coia from all LIUNA leadership positions and take over LIUNA without delay.

National Legal and Policy Center promotes ethics in government through distribution of the "Code of Ethics for Government Service" and through education, research and legal action.

Sincerely,
 

Kenneth F. Boehm
Chairman

Department of Justice Repsonse

Organized Labor Accountability Project

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