Kim Postpones Aug. 18 Fund-Raiser With Gingrich

YORBA LINDA — Rep. Jay C. Kim (R-Diamond Bar) postponed an upcoming fund-raiser with House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) on Friday, a day after he and his wife pleaded guilty to concealing more than $230,000 in illegal campaign contributions from corporate and foreign donors.

The fund-raiser was scheduled for Aug. 18 at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace in Yorba Linda.

“He is concerned that too much attention would be focused on these recently resolved issues at the expense of Speaker Gingrich and Mr. Kim’s accomplishments,” said Matt Reynolds, Kim’s chief of staff. “It will be postponed until this thing simmers down.”

In a deal with prosecutors announced Thursday, Kim and his wife, June, who helped manage his campaigns, will be allowed to plead guilty to misdemeanor election law violations in Los Angeles federal court on Monday. The deal capped a four-year federal investigation.

The Kims face maximum fines of $635,000. According to the plea agreement, prosecutors will request between zero and six months in jail for the couple--as opposed to the maximum one-year sentence the violations typically carry.

Kim represents Yorba Linda, Placentia and Brea, as well as portions of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

Reynolds said Kim has accompanied Gingrich on trips to China and Japan. Gingrich attended a 1995 fund-raiser for Kim.