Ros-Lehtinen, a Miami Republican and a hard-line critic of the Fidel Castro regime, was named Thursday by U.S. Rep. Dan Burton, R-Indiana, to look into ``any possible connection'' between these contributors and the Cuban government.
In an interview, she said she also intends to examine whether the contributions resulted in any softening of U.S. policy toward the Castro government.
``We must investigate to the fullest any intent by the Castro regime and its sympathizers in the United States of influencing U.S. policy toward the dictator,'' she said. ``The allegations made in this regard against the White House are very serious and we need complete answers.''
Burton, as chairman of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, will lead the House investigation into the White House fund-raising controversy. Ros-Lehtinen said Thursday that Burton has broken the investigation into several smaller probes -- including the alleged Cuban connection -- and asked other Republican committee members to assume the lead.
Among the contributions Ros-Lehtinen will examine is a $20,000 check from Jorge Cabrera, a member of a prominent Keys fishing and lobstering family. The donation enabled Cabrera to attend a fund-raiser with Vice President Al Gore in Coral Gables, and he later to go to a White House Christmas party where he met first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Three weeks later, Cabrera was arrested and charged with smuggling 6,000 pounds of cocaine through the Florida Keys. He subsequently pleaded guilty and is in federal prison. The Democratic Party returned the check.
But Cabrera reportedly told congressional investigators that he was asked for the donation while in Havana on a business trip. He said Miami businesswoman Vivian Mannerud, who runs a travel charter business, asked him over breakfast at the Copacabana.
She disputed that claim in a New York Times interview.
``Right now all we have is a `he said, she said,' '' Ros-Lehtinen said. ``I'm interested in learning more about this.''
Ros-Lehtinen said she also expected to look into donations made by several other contributors who advocate better relations with the Castro government. She singled out a donation made by Key West businessman John Henry Cabanas, who has publicly expressed admiration for Castro and, according to some sources, has worked as an agent for the Cuban government.
Copyright © 1997 The Miami Herald