Bill Clinton pardon controversy

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Bill Clinton was criticized for some of his presidential pardons and acts of executive clemency.[1] Pardoning or commuting sentences is a power granted by the Constitution to sitting U.S. presidents. Scholars describe two different models of the pardons process. In the 'agency model' of pardons the process is driven by nonpolitical legal experts in the Department of Justice. In contrast, Clinton followed the 'presidential model', viewing the pardon power as a convenient resource that could be used to advance specific policy goals.

While Clinton pardoned a far greater number (450)[2] of people than his immediate one-term predecessor, Republican George H. W. Bush, who pardoned only 75, the number of people pardoned by Clinton was comparable to that pardoned by two-term Republican Ronald Reagan and one-term Democrat Jimmy Carter, who pardoned 393 and 534 respectively.[3] However, Clinton chose to make nearly a third of his pardons on January 20, 2001, his last day in office. This was ridiculed as "Pardongate".[4]

In particular, Clinton's pardon of Marc Rich, a fugitive from justice whose ex-wife made substantial donations to the Clinton Presidential Center and Hillary Clinton's campaign for the U.S. Senate, was investigated by federal prosecutor Mary Jo White. She was later replaced by Republican James Comey, who found no illegality on Clinton's part.[5]

FALN Commutation of 1999

On August 11, 1999, Clinton commuted the sentences of 16 members of

campaigning for her first term in the Senate, initially supported the commutation,[9] but withdrew her support three days later.[10]

Congress condemned this action by President Clinton, with votes of 95–2 in the Senate and 311–41 in the House.

U.S. House Committee on Government Reform held an investigation on the matter, but the Justice Department prevented FBI officials from testifying.[13] President Clinton cited executive privilege
for his refusal to turn over some documents to Congress related to his decision to offer clemency to members of the FALN terrorist group.

Among those who accepted clemency are:

Those who rejected clemency include:

Edgar and Vonna Jo Gregory pardons

In March 2000, Bill Clinton pardoned Edgar and Vonna Jo Gregory, owners of the carnival company

First Lady Hillary Clinton's youngest brother, Tony Rodham, was an acquaintance of the Gregorys, and had lobbied Clinton on their behalf.[16] In October 2006, the group Judicial Watch filed a request with the U.S. Justice Department for an investigation, alleging that Rodham had received $107,000 from the Gregorys for the pardons in the form of loans that were never repaid, as part of a quid pro quo scheme.[17]

Pardons and commutations signed on President Clinton's final day in office

Clinton issued 140 pardons as well as several commutations on his last day of office, January 20, 2001.[18][19] When a sentence is commuted, the conviction remains intact; however, the sentence can be altered in a number of ways.

On February 18, 2001, Bill Clinton wrote a New York Times column defending the 140 pardons.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Presidential Pardons Archived 2007-11-17 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b Clinton, William Jefferson (February 18, 2001). "My Reasons for the Pardons". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 24, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  3. ^ "Presidential Clemency Actions by Administration: 1945 to Present". US Department of Justice – Office of the Pardon Attorney. 2011-03-07. Archived from the original on 2011-02-28. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
  4. ^ Reaves, Jessica (February 27, 2001). "Pardongate Play-by-Play". Time. Archived from the original on March 3, 2001. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  5. ^ H. Abbie Erler, "Executive Clemency or Bureaucratic Discretion? Two Models of the Pardons Process." Presidential Studies Quarterly 37.3 (2007): 427–448.
  6. ^ Press Release 1999 #352 News Advisory, United States Department of Justice: The Office of Public Affairs Archived August 2, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, 1999-08-11.
  7. ^ Rep. Dan Burton (December 12, 1999). "Findings of the committee on government reform". United States House of Representatives: Committee on Government Reform. https://fas.org/irp/world/para/docs/final_faln_rpt2.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
  8. Fraternal Order of Police
    Grand Lodge, 1999-08-18.
  9. ^ "White House responds to criticism of clemency offer". CNN. September 2, 1999. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  10. ^ Black, Chris (September 5, 1999). "First lady opposes presidential clemency for Puerto Rican Nationalists". CNN. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  11. United States Government Printing Office. 1999-09-09. Archived from the original
    on September 27, 2012.
  12. United States Government Printing Office. 1999-09-14. Archived from the original
    on September 27, 2012.
  13. ^ Frieden, Terry (September 14, 1999). "Justice blocks FBI testimony at FALN clemency hearing". CNN. Archived from the original on December 12, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  14. ^ "Commutations, Remissions, and Reprieves Granted by President William J. Clinton (1993-2001) | PARDON | Department of Justice". Archived from the original on 2015-03-27.
  15. ^ Hundreds Greet Nationalist Freed After 19 Years In Prison. Archived March 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Laura Rivera Melendez, Associated Press. 25 January 2004. Puerto Rico Herald. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  16. ^ Larry King Live (March 2, 2001). "What Was Tony Rodham's Role in Pardons Granted by the President?". CNN. Archived from the original on June 13, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  17. ^ "JW Calls on Justice Department to Investigate Hillary Clinton's Brother" Archived November 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, October 11, 2006.
  18. ^ Ross, Sonya (January 20, 2001). "Clinton Pardons More Than 100". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  19. ^ "Clinton Pardon's List". The Washington Post. Associated Press. January 20, 2001. Archived from the original on July 14, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  20. ^ Stephen Barrett, MD. "Be Wary of Gero Vita, A. Glenn Braswell, and Braswell's 'Journal' of Longevity". Quackwatch. Archived from the original on 7 March 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  21. ^ Moss, Michael (February 8, 2001). "Officials Say Investigation Will Go On Despite Pardon". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  22. Salon
    . Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  23. ^ "Rodham says he has repaid fees for clemency cases". CNN. February 24, 2001. Archived from the original on December 19, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  24. ^ "Owner takes Fifth in Senate 'miracles' probe". CNN. September 10, 2001. Archived from the original on December 16, 2006. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  25. ^ Christopher, Tommy (April 16, 2008). "Clinton has Bigger Weather Underground Problem". AOL. Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  26. ^ Nordlinger, Jay (November 29, 2004). "Clinton's Rosenberg Case". National Review. Archived from the original on December 10, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  27. ^ Neisloss, Liz (October 27, 2005). "Probe: $1.8B diverted to Hussein regime". CNN. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  28. ^ Berke, Richard L. (February 23, 2001). "The Clinton Pardons: The Democrats; This Time, Clintons Find Their Support Buckling From Weight of New Woes". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  29. ^ "Rostenkowski Is Released From Wisconsin Prison". The New York Times. Agence France-Presse. August 20, 1997. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  30. ^ Lewis, Neil A. (December 23, 2000). "Clinton Issues a Pardon To Ex-Rep. Rostenkowski". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  31. ^ a b "Pardons Granted by President William J. Clinton (1993-2001)". United States Department of Justice. Archived from the original on January 7, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  32. ISBN 9781629630380
    .
  33. ^ "Roger Clinton now target of pardon probe". CNN. February 22, 2001. Archived from the original on February 9, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  34. ^ Shannon, Elaine; Novak, Viveca (February 17, 2001). "Bill, How Low Can You Go?". Time. Archived from the original on April 13, 2001. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  35. ^ Weiser, Benjamin (April 14, 2001). "Special Pleading; A Felon's Well-Connected Path to Clemency". The New York Times. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  36. ^ Fritz, Sara (March 22, 1995). "Arkansas Broker Agrees to Aid Whitewater Investigation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 6, 2023.

Further reading

External links


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