http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010221/ts/clinton_pardons_dc_21.html
Wednesday February 21 8:12 PM ET
Clinton Tells Relative to Return Pardon Money
Photos
Reuters Photo
By Thomas Ferraro
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former President Clinton (news - web sites) disclosed
on Wednesday his brother-in-law received large payments in connection with
pardons that Clinton gave to two convicted felons but he denied any prior
knowledge of the transactions and insisted the money be returned.
Clinton also said he directed Hugh Rodham, brother of former first lady and
now U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (news - web sites), to return the money
to the felons, one of whom was pardoned, the other of whom had his sentenced
shortened and was freed.
``Neither Hillary nor I had any knowledge of such payments,'' Clinton said
in a statement. ``We are deeply disturbed by these reports and insisted that
Hugh return any monies involved.''
One of two congressional committees already investigating the Clinton
pardons, particularly the one the former president gave to fugitive
billionaire Marc Rich, promptly announced plans to examine the transactions.
``This news is deeply troubling,'' said Rep. Dan Burton (news - bio - voting
record), an Indiana Republican and head of the House of Representatives
Government Reform Committee.
``We intend to look into this,'' Burton said in a statement. ''We intend to
ask Mr. Rodham to give us all the details of whom he represented and how
much he was paid.''
Rodham, a private attorney in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, could not
immediately be reached for comment.
But CNN quoted a letter from Rodham's lawyer, saying, ``My client, Hugh
Rodham, today acceded to his family request that he return legal fees earned
in connection with pardon requests.''
Clintons Unaware, Letter
``My client did not advise President or Senator Clinton of his involvement
in these requests,'' CNN quoted the letter as saying. ''He believes that
they were unaware until this week of his work on his clients' behalf.''
CNN reported that the statement went on to say, ``Hugh Rodham has done
absolutely nothing wrong.''
One of the two felons who paid money to Rodham, Glen Braswell, was among the
140 people who Clinton pardoned on his last day in the White House, Jan. 20,
2001.
The other, Carlos Vignali, was among 36 people who had their sentences
shortened by the former president.
Clinton, in a statement issued by his transition office in Washington, said,
``Yesterday I became aware of press inquiries that Hugh Rodham received a
contingency fee in connection with a pardon application by Glenn Braswell
and a fee for work on Carlos Vignali's commutation application.''
The payment by Braswell was first disclosed by The National Enquirer under
the headline, ``Clinton Pardon Payoff Exposed.'' The tabloid said Braswell
paid $200,000 to Rodham.
There was no immediate word on how much money Vignali paid to Rodham.
Braswell, described as a Miami businessman, was pardoned for a 1983 mail
fraud conviction. He served three years behind bars.
Vignali had his sentence commuted after serving six years of a 15-year
sentence for his involvement in a Los Angeles-Minneapolis cocaine
trafficking ring.
Burton said in his statement his committee would examine the money paid by
Braswell, and a top aide said the panel would also examine the money paid by
Vignali.
Burton, in his statement, said, ``We already know that Mr. Braswell's pardon
was not reviewed by the Department of Justice (news - web sites).''
``Yet again, this makes it look like there is one system of justice for
those with money and influence, and one system of justice for everyone
else,'' Burton said.
Clinton Tells Relative to Return Pardon Money.url
