WASHINGTON: President Clinton has put off nominating former Rep. Stephen J.Solarz as ambassador to India after a back ground check found problems that the administration is unwilling to specify.
New York Newsday reported on Oct.30 that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Immigration and Naturalization Service had been drawn into an investigation of the former Brooklyn congressman, and subpoenas have been issued.
An administration official re fused to go into details but said that “there are some problems” delaying the appointment, “The checks are continuing,” the official said.
In an interview, Solarz said he was not aware of subpoenas or that anything unusual or improper was found in the background check, which began in July. In nine terms in the House, Solarz, a Democrat, exerted strong influence on foreign affairs. He also became an authority on India and Pakistan, which is why Clinton wanted to nominate him to the post in New Delhi.
Solarz has been dogged by ethical questions since the House ethics committee identified him as one of the most egregious abusers of check writing privileges at the House bank. In more than 39 months, he overdrew his account 743 times.
He was eventually cleared by the Justice Department of criminal wrongdoing related to the bank affair,
He is quite unpopular with the Sikh community because of his pro India Government policies and his complete lack of sympathy for the human rights viola ions in Punjab.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 5, 1993
