Clinton's friends on the run from all of his latest scandals ;-)

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Unk's Wild Wild West : One Thread

MONDAY FEBRUARY 12 2001 Friends retreat as Clinton row grows FROM BEN MACINTYRE IN WASHINGTON HOURS before Bill Clinton left office, he granted clemency to a convicted drugs kingpin whose wealthy father is a generous Democratic donor.

Mr Clinton’s departure from the presidency has already been tainted by his acceptance of a small fortune in gifts, the removal of White House furniture, the planned rental of a palatial office suite in Manhattan and questionable pardons. Congressional inquiries into the pardon granted to the fugitive billionaire Marc Rich continue this week, as accusations against Mr Clinton accumulate.

Philip J. Purcell, chairman of Morgan Stanley, agreed that the investment company had been mistaken in having the former President to speak at a conference last week, an address for which he was paid $150,000 (about £100,000).

While former allies are backing away from the Clintons, old enemies are wading in. Dick Morris, a former adviser to Mr Clinton, claimed yesterday that Hillary Clinton, now elected to the Senate, had not declared many of the gifts she received during her husband’s years in the White House. Linda Tripp, whose recorded telephone conversations detonated the Lewinsky scandal, endorsed that accusation, asserting that the Clintons did not always fill out forms for items received, and kept some.

Among the 140 pardons and 36 commutations granted by Mr Clinton at the end of his presidency, one went to Carlos Vignali, 30, a drug dealer who had served six years of a 15-year sentence for his role in a conspiracy to ship cocaine from California. Vignali’s father, a California entrepreneur, donated $160,000 to prominent Democrats in the years after his son’s arrest and conviction, according to the Los Angeles Times. Horacio Vignali denied that the commuting of his son’s sentence was linked to his own political contributions. “I’m a Democrat,” he told the newspaper.

The prosecutors, the judge and others involved in the Vignali case have expressed astonishment at the move. “It makes no sense,” Margaret Love, who oversaw all clemency applications to the Justice Department between 1990 and 1997, said.

Meanwhile, congressional investigators looking into possible links between Rich’s pardon and political donations are seeking access to the bank accounts of Denise Rich, former wife of the financier, who fled to Switzerland after investigators charged him with failing to pay $48 million in taxes.

Mrs Rich gave $1.3 million to the Clintons and other Democrats, The Washington Post reported, and $450,000 to the Clinton presidential library. She has refused to testify to the House Government Reform Committee, citing her right under the Fifth Amendment not to risk incriminating herself. David Kendall, Mr Clinton’s lawyer, intends to fight attempts to gain access to the financial records of the Clinton library.

Mr Clinton is also under fire over his plans to move into a vast suite in the Carnegie Tower; the rent is $811,000 a year. The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee has blocked the agency that oversees such matters from signing the lease while the matter is investigated.

The Clintons initially said they were removing $190,000 worth of furniture, rugs and other gifts, but under criticism agreed to pay for $86,000 worth of items. Last week they returned 19 objects after donors complained that these had been intended for the White House. The pair are said to have started moving furniture from the White House to their new home in New York more than a year ago, despite questions from the Chief Usher.

Even Mr Clinton’s allies have been taken aback that such an agile politician has mishandled his departure so grossly, and with so little apparent appreciation of the political repercussions. “For all his enormous talents, I think there is a kind of habitual arrogance and carelessness about him,” the historian David Halberstam told the Daily News.

As Mr Clinton arrived in Florida for his first post-presidency speech, one heckler shouted what may end up being Mr Clinton’s epitaph: “Hide the women and silverware!”

Clinton's Friend on the Run!

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), February 12, 2001

Answers

As Mr Clinton arrived in Florida for his first post-presidency speech, one heckler shouted what may end up being Mr Clinton’s epitaph: “Hide the women and silverware!”

ROFL!

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), February 12, 2001.


And all the Repugnants are going through penis-envy withdrawal, chasing Clinton's cock to all ends of the globe. They miss his beautiful cock, they want to suck on it some more.

-- (Repug@inferiority.complex), February 12, 2001.

Hey dummy, ya want to talk numbers? Try these on for size...Bush's Ties to Enron Chief Attract Growing Scrutiny

How did ya miss this one Ain't? Being you for truth, justice and such<<<<
-- (doc_paulie@hotmail.com), February 12, 2001.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ