Denise Rich Cleared for White House Jan. 19 Source Says Financier's Ex-Wife Did Not Attend Party on Eve of Clinton Pardons

By Susan Schmidt and Peter Slevin Washington Post Staff Writers Tuesday, February 27, 2001; Page A06

Denise Rich and former Democratic Party finance director Beth Dozoretz were cleared to attend a party at the White House on President Clinton's final night in office when he was deciding on a raft of controversial pardons, including one for Rich's ex-husband, Secret Service records show.

But Dozoretz's husband, Ronald Dozoretz, said last night that although she was cleared to enter the White House, his wife did not attend the party and was in a plane in California with him at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 19, a minute after Secret Service logs show she entered the White House complex.

While the logs indicate that Denise Rich arrived at about the same time, a source close to her said that while she was invited, Rich did not go to the White House.

Secret Service records also show that Denise Rich had been to the White House at least 13 times before and that Beth Dozoretz had been there dozens of times over the years, according to sources familiar with a House committee investigation of the pardon of fugitive commodities trader Marc Rich.

Yesterday, Beth Dozoretz said that she will invoke her Fifth Amendment privilege rather than testify Thursday before the House Government Reform Committee, which is investigating the pardon of Rich along with other questionable pardons.

By asserting her right against self-incrimination, Dozoretz joins Denise Rich, a major Democratic campaign contributor and pardon advocate for her former husband, in refusing to detail the intensive lobbying efforts on behalf of Marc Rich.

Committee Chairman Dan Burton (R-Ind.), who has subpoenaed records of White House visits by Denise Rich and Dozoretz, suggested that the two women -- along with Clinton, Marc Rich and the Clinton library foundation -- are "stonewalling." Yesterday he threatened library chief Skip Rutherford with a contempt citation if he does not give committee staffers access to donor lists.

"Unfortunately, the facts are not coming out," Burton said in a written statement. "It is beginning to seem that the reason people aren't answering questions is because they are hiding something. This is unacceptable."

On Jan. 19, when Clinton was up most of the night weighing pardons, the White House party guests included several people who have been linked to the pardon controversy. Among those who attended to socialize and watch movies was Hugh Rodham, the first lady's brother, who was paid nearly $400,000 for advocating pardons for a convicted cocaine dealer and for a marketer of herbal remedies who was convicted of fraud and perjury. Hollywood producer Harry Thomasson, a Clinton friend from Arkansas who was also there, sent two hometown friends to Hillary Clinton's campaign treasurer for help obtaining a pardon.

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that two of every three Americans believe the Clinton pardons are an important issue. Only 16 percent consider the matter "not important at all"; about half believe Congress should hold further hearings, with half opposed.

Despite the political skirmishing and heavy media coverage, however, the pardons issue has not significantly affected public perceptions of Clinton's presidency. In all, 59 percent of the 1,050 randomly selected respondents said they approve of Clinton's performance as president, with 37 percent saying they disapprove.

The Marc Rich pardon is the subject of two inquiries on Capitol Hill and a criminal investigation by the U.S. attorney in New York, where Rich was indicted in 1983 on charges of tax evasion and trading with the enemy. Prosecutors are examining whether the Rich pardon and the commutation awarded to four convicted swindlers in New Square, N.Y., are the product of influence-buying.

While Beth Dozoretz was closely involved in the Rich case, Burton's committee is more interested in the testimony of three senior Clinton aides who consulted with the former president as pardon decisions were made.

Committee Republicans are worried that Clinton White House counsel Beth Nolan, chief of staff John D. Podesta and counsel Bruce Lindsey will decline to answer some questions by citing executive privilege or attorney-client privilege. The committee asked the former president to waive the privileges. His lawyers are considering the request, informed sources said.

The Burton committee butted heads for years with the Clinton White House in the panel's aggressive inquiries into the financing of the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign. Republicans on the committee frequently alleged that the White House was coordinating an effort to discourage cooperation with the congressional probes.

Burton suggested in a letter to Clinton lawyer David E. Kendall yesterday that committee staff be permitted to review Clinton library donor lists for contributions or pledges of $5,000 or more. The request follows news that Denise Rich contributed $450,000 to the library and Dozoretz pledged to raise $1 million.

Kendall refused an earlier Burton request to release the list, contending that the names are protected by the First Amendment and that Burton is conducting a "fishing expedition."

Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, once represented Rich and is scheduled to testify Thursday. While Libby has said he had no role in the pardon, the White House confirmed yesterday that Libby called Rich to congratulate him on Jan. 22, two days after Clinton issued the pardon.

"He called and congratulated him as any lawyer would a former client," said Bush White House spokesman Ari Fleischer. "Libby played no role in the pardon. He was approached to participate in the pardon process and he turned them down."

Staff writer John Mintz contributed to this report.

© 2001 The Washington Post Company

Were they even there? - Husband of DNC financier claims she was on plane, despite White House logs

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), February 27, 2001