-Caveat Lector-
PARDONGATE PROBERS BID TO UNITE ON CLINTON GRILL
New York Post-Monday
February 26, 2001
By VINCENT MORRIS
WASHINGTON - The top two Republicans overseeing congressional
probes into Pardongate yesterday backed merging their
investigations to help convince Bill Clinton to testify.
Their comments came amid reports that Attorney General John
Ashcroft could wade into the pardon mess by appointing an
independent prosecutor.
"We ought not to duplicate. And coordinated efforts, if not a
joint hearing, I think would be advisable," said Sen. Arlen
Specter (R-Pa.) on CBS' "Face the Nation."
Specter, who is leading the Senate Judiciary Committee's
investigation into ex-President Clinton's much-criticized January
rash of pardons, was joined by Rep. Dan Burton, who runs the
House probe.
"That's something that we could look into," said Burton, an
Indiana Republican whose House Government Reform Committee is
convening a second hearing Thursday to look at the pardon mess.
A legal expert tied to one of the panels said the move would
probably make Clinton more likely to testify, since he'd have to
make only one appearance on the Hill rather than two.
Burton added that he would support tapping someone to lead a
broad, multi-state, federal investigation into Clinton's 140
last-minute probes.
"If Mr. Ashcroft chooses to appoint a special counsel to look at
this, I would welcome that," Burton said on "Fox News Sunday" -
even though Ashcroft aides say it won't happen.
Among Clinton's many pardons, absolving billionaire and accused
tax cheat Marc Rich has drawn the most criticism. Clinton defends
the move and insists that campaign contributions from Rich's
ex-wife Denise were not a factor.
This week, Vice President Dick Cheney also may be dragged into
the pardon mess. His current chief of staff, Lewis Libby, is
slated to testify Thursday. Libby is a former lawyer to Rich.
Besides Libby, three of Clinton's top White House aides will
testify: ex-Chief of Staff John Podesta, ex-counsel Beth Nolan
and ex-adviser Bruce Lindsey.
Skip Rutherford, president of the nonprofit foundation leading
efforts to raise $200 million to build a Clinton library in
Little Rock, Ark., also will testify.
Critics charge that Clinton OK'd pardons in exchange for
donations to his library. Burton's staff is poring over bank
records from Denise Rich to see if there's a link. So far,
they've been unable to convince Rutherford to cough up the full
donor list.
Burton acknowledged he's had death threats and travels with a
bodyguard.
"There have been threats, and we will just deal with them as they
occur," Burton said on Fox.
Regarding the idea of a joint House-Senate committee, several
lawmakers backed it, including Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Rep.
Chris Shays (R-Conn.) and Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.)
But Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) said the current arrangement was
better.
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Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF:
*Michael Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
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