FUND RAISING

By J.F.O. McAllister/Washington

Where, oh, where is CHARLIE TRIE? Congressional investigators have been eager to question the former Little Rock restaurateur and friend of BILL CLINTON's who appears to have funneled foreign money to the Democrats. Trie hightailed it to China when the scandal heated up. A month ago, frustrated G.O.P. Congressman DAN BURTON asked the President to seek China's help in locating Trie. Lo and behold, two weeks ago, Beijing gave U.S. diplomats the name of the hotel Trie was holed up in, and they passed that along to Burton. But that hasn't permitted investigators to get any closer to their quarry. China considers Trie to be in the country legally, and the U.S. has no right to compel his testimony while he's there. Burton will certainly ask for more help from the Administration and Beijing in coaxing Trie to talk. But you won't find the Clinton camp up nights worrying about Charlie. "We will continue to cooperate and relay any requests he [Burton] may have," says a senior State Department official.

--By J.F.O. McAllister/Washington