Wednesday, February 21, 2001
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Wednesday, February 21, 2001 |
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Clinton Bunny just keeps going, going By AMY RILEY Will William Jefferson Clinton's last-minute pardon of tax evasion fugitive Marc Rich finally bring down the gavel of justice under the rule of law on the most corrupt president in U.S. history? Or will the American people, once again, allow Bill and Hillary to skirt the laws of this country because we are complacent, weary, and too far removed from Washington to care? Many would rather put the whole Clinton era behind us and "just say no" to an investigation, but allowing ourselves to grow weary of upholding the law is like saying we're weary of having laws. Upholding the law requires action, due diligence, and an Energizer Bunny resilience in the face of corruption that just keeps going, and going, and going. Just what did Clinton do? In the a.m. hours of inauguration day, just hours before the presidential oath was taken by George Bush, Bill Clinton signed a pardon for Marc Rich, a billionaire fugitive from the U.S. Justice Department who fled this country years ago rather than face prosecution for tax evasion and illegal oil deals with Iran. Clinton, it seems, took a chance that by sending over the pardon package at the last minute that a thorough background check in the Justice Department would be thwarted, and apparently the plan worked. Marc Rich got his pardon, and Senate Judiciary Committee hearings are being held to look into suspected illegalities surrounding certain large political donations that were made by Rich's ex-wife, Denise Rich. Altogether, an estimated $1.1 million went to the Democratic party, an estimated $450,000 to Clinton's presidential library fund, and another estimated $109,000 was given to Hillary Clinton's Senate campaign. Committee members suspect that the funds were filtered through Mrs. Rich since it would be illegal for a foreigner to make a donation to a U.S. candidate, and that the large donations helped to sweeten prospects for Rich's pardon. Who knows what will become of all of that. Nothing probably, but almost as interesting is the surprising vacuum opening up around Bill Clinton in the aftermath. Nobody wants to get anywhere near this one. Just as the country was sitting back waiting to see how Clinton would fashion his post-presidential career (was anybody sitting back waiting to see that?), and as he seemed poised for a big role in the National Democratic Party, suddenly a gaping chasm has opened up around him and no one seems to want to be caught standing nearby, not even the Clinton worshipping press. Wow, who'd have thought? I just hope that Republicans don't let this one get away. But then again, we're just so numbed to these sorts of things after eight long years. Most Americans probably find half-brother Roger Clinton's pardon a more interesting tale. It seems he's already gotten himself back in to trouble with an alleged DUI. I guess apples really don't fall far from the tree. And don't forget the whole silverware and furniture thing. That was like an episode of Jerry Springer, jilted president goes out with a party... and half the dishes and chairs and tables, even the toothpaste?! Maybe all of this scandal will cause Clinton to take a hiatus from politics altogether for a while, but I won't hold my breath. I bet Hillary is really steamed, but she probably knows that this will all be a distant memory by the time she runs for president. She knows how short the American attention span is after all. Give us liberty... and due diligence. It just keeps going, and going, and going.... [Your comments are welcome: ARileyFreePress@aol.com.]
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