-Caveat Lector-
Sunday, January 28, 2001 / 4 Shevat 5761
Jewish Week Wireless.
U.S. Holocaust Museum May Be Dragged Into Controversy over Marc
Rich Pardon James D. Besser - Washington Correspondent The
furor over President Bill Clintonís pardon of fugitive
commodities trader Marc Rich could entangle the U.S. Holocaust
Memorial Museum in new controversy as lawmakers probe what some
say was a politically motivated action by the outgoing president.
This week The Jewish Week learned that Rabbi Irving ìYitzî
Greenberg, chair of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, wrote to
Clinton asking for a pardon for Rich. More important, Rabbi
Greenberg wrote his appeal on official council stationery.
A council source expressed concern that the letter, which Rabbi
Greenberg said was put on council stationery by mistake, could
further inflame congressional critics of the successful by
sometimes-controversial museum on the Mall in Washington.
In the letter, Rabbi Greenberg referred to the billionaireís
philanthropy. ìHe brought vision, generosity, a desire to do
good, a willingness to take a leadership role; most of all, I saw
that he did good in a situation where he would not get
recognition. I saw then that he really cares.î
Rabbi Greenberg also referred to Richís ìsadness, his pain and
suffering, his desire to do good and to make up by making a
better world. I believe that the time has come to give him a new
path and a new life.î
In a statement to The Jewish Week, Rabbi Greenberg, who also
serves as president of the Jewish Life Network, explained his
action by saying that Rich was ìan early and helpful major
partner with Jewish Life Networkî in Birthright Israel, a project
that brings thousands of young Jewish people to Israel for free,
10-day trips.
One source said that Rich has given ìmillionsî to Birthright ó
which Rabbi Greenberg helped found.
Rabbi Greenberg was out of the country and did not respond to
requests for an interview. His spokesman acknowledged that
ìputting the letter on council stationery was a mistake. It was
supposed to be on Jewish Life Network stationery.î
Congressional Republicans promised quick action to probe the
pardon.
This week Rep Dan Burton (R-Ind.), chair of the House Government
Reform Committee, promised hearings on the circumstances of the
ìmotive, basis and timingî of the pardon.
Rich fled the United States in 1983 after he was indicted on
charges of racketeering, tax evasion and tax fraud. Federal
prosecutors charged that Richís companies violated U.S. sanctions
against Iran and evaded taxes on the profits.
A number of prominent businesspeople and Jewish leaders wrote to
Clinton supporting a pardon, including Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Barak.
The Rich pardon was one of several issued in the last days of the
Clinton administration that ignited a firestorm of criticism and
calls for congressional investigations. Richís former wife,
Denise, is a friend of the former president and a large
Democratic contributor. This week Denise Rich denied that her
donations to Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Sen. Hillary
Clinton (D-N.Y.) and other Democrats was connected to the
decision to issue the pardon.
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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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