Clinton To Give Away Cash From Fund-Raiser

WASHINGTON — Senator Clinton, a Democratic presidential candidate, will give to charity the $23,000 in donations she has received from a fund-raiser who is wanted in California for failing to appear for sentencing on a 1991 grand theft charge.

The decision came yesterday as other Democrats began distancing themselves from Norman Hsu, whose legal encounters and links to other Democratic donors have drawn public scrutiny in the past two days.

Al Franken, a Senate candidate in Minnesota, Reps. Michael Honda and Doris Matsui of California, and Rep. Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania said they would divest their campaigns of Mr. Hsu's donations.

Mr. Hsu is a fund-raiser for Clinton and is described as a devoted fan of the presidential candidate and New York senator. He had planned to co-host a money event for Mrs. Clinton on September 30. In a statement yesterday, Mr. Hsu said he believed he had resolved his legal issues but said he would halt his work raising political money.

"I would not consciously subject any of the candidates and causes in which I believe to any harm through my actions," he said. "Therefore, until this matter is resolved, I intend to refrain from all fund-raising activities on behalf of all candidates and causes."

Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer said the $23,000 included contributions from Mr. Hsu to Mrs. Clinton's presidential campaign, her Senate re-election and her political action committee. The campaign did not plan to return any money Mr. Hsu raised from other donors, Mr. Singer said. "In light of the information regarding Mr. Hsu's outstanding warrant in California, we will be giving his contribution to charity," Mr. Singer said.