By Susan Falvella-Garraty
Washington, D.C. — The former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy-Smith, paid a $5,000 fine to the U.S. government last week.
Kennedy-Smith was accused of improperly soliciting a donation from the Irish government while ambassador in Dublin for a recent Irish arts program at the Kennedy Center in Washington, according to the Justice Department.
In August 1998, Kennedy-Smith sent a letter on official State Department stationery asking Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for the Irish government to help fund the Island-Arts from Ireland Festival that took place last Spring in Washington at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.
Kennedy-Smith, sister of the late president John F. Kennedy, serves on the Board of the Kennedy Center. The Justice Department said it was improper for her to ask for funds for a project presented by an organization upon which an ambassador has a personal interest.
In paying the fine, Kennedy-Smith said she did not do anything wrong or profit from the donation. She said her actions had been "entirely proper," and by paying the fine she could avoid "what could be a distracting and time-consuming proceeding."
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Prior to assuming her post in Dublin, the sister of Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy agreed not to "personally participate in any solicitation of funds" involving the Kennedy Center. Investigators charged Kennedy-Smith’s actions violated laws baring federal employees from participating in a matter in which an employee serves as a trustee or receives financial benefit.
In a statement Mrs. Kennedy-Smith said she thought she was acting ethically and had permission to ask for the donation which was added to funding received by the British government and individual and corporate donors to fund the program presented last May.
Irish President Mary McAleese opened the week-long program of music, drama and poetry. Donal Lunny and Philip King brought together the performers for their show in the Opera House. From Lambeg drums to country music performer Ricky Skaggs, Riverdance rounded out the performance that was generally well received.
Smith said in the settlement she thought she had received approval to send the letter. She emphasized that she has no financial interest in the Kennedy Center and that "the gift of the Irish government went entirely to help meet the costs of the Festival; none of it went to the Kennedy Center’s endowment. In short, I believe there was absolutely no conflict of interest on my part."