WASHINGTON — The White House has hired actor Kal Penn as a liaison between President Obama's administration and Asian-American constituents.

The White House said yesterday that Penn, who had a regular role on Fox's TV show "House" will join the staff as an associate director in the Office of Public Liaison. His role will be to connect Obama with the Asian-American and Pacific islander communities, and with arts groups.

Penn starred as Kumar in the film "Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay." His "House" character committed suicide in Monday's episode.

The White House did not reveal what Penn will be paid. Aides with similar titles earned between $41,000 and $91,000 last year.

OPRAH MILLIONAIRE CONTEST A SCAM

Oprah Winfrey has been generous to her studio audiences, including the famed day when she pointed to everyone there and proclaimed, "You're getting a car!"

But she's not giving away $1 million, despite a spam e-mail going around.

The FBI warns that the "Oprah Millionaire Contest Show" e-mail (see a copy at: www.snopes.com/fraud/contest/oprah.asp) is a scam that claims the recipient has been nominated to be on an Oprah show during which the cash winner will be named. As the scam-busting www.Snopes.com discovered, those "chosen" for the show are told to send money to pay for an airline or train ticket to Chicago for the program. They even have to pay to get into the show.

Oprah.com, the Web site of Winfrey's media empire, says there are several "sweepstakes scams" claiming ties to the show (www.oprah.com/article/oprahdotcom/scams). Besides, tickets to the show are free.

O'NEAL SON IN DRUG TROUBLE AGAIN

LOS ANGELES — Prosecutors charged the son of Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett yesterday with a felony count of bringing drugs to a jail.

It was the latest legal problem for Redmond O'Neal, who was arrested Sunday while out on bail in another drug case. Sheriff's deputies who stopped O'Neal at a security checkpoint said the 24-year-old was carrying heroin while taking a friend to a Los Angeles-area jail.

He remained in custody yesterday, with bail set at $75,000. His arraignment was postponed until April 24.

Fawcett is recovering from complications from a procedure to treat anal cancer that has spread to her liver.

NO CHARGES FILED AGAINST ALEX DA SILVA

LOS ANGELES — The district attorney's office says it doesn't yet have enough evidence to charge a celebrity choreographer with sexually assaulting four of his students.

Prosecutors yesterday said further police investigation is needed into allegations that Alex Da Silva lured the female dance students into his bedroom and raped them between May 2003 and March 28.

The 41-year-old salsa dancer and star of the Fox television show "So You Think You Can Dance" was arrested Saturday and was expected to be released yesterday.