-Caveat Lector- <http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/ap/20010305/us/clinton_pardons_103.html> Monday March 5 11:32 AM ET Clinton Refuses Senate Pardons Talk WASHINGTON (AP) - Former President Clinton is unlikely to accept an offer that he be questioned privately by senators about pardons he issued during his final hours in office, a spokeswoman says. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said Sunday he thought Clinton ``may be inclined'' to accept his offer as a way of ``getting to the basic facts.'' But it's unlikely, Clinton spokeswoman Julia Payne said Monday. ``This is not an offer he's considering at this time,'' she said. Senate leaders are treading gingerly over the prospect of trying to compel Clinton's testimony about his 176 last-minute pardons and commutations. Specter said they have suggested that he and a Democratic senator do the questioning in private. He detailed the proposal in a letter to Clinton last week. Specter also said he had an ``informal conversation'' with Clinton's chief of staff, Karen Tramontano, and was told the former president ``is thinking about it.'' Payne said Tramontano had wanted more information about the offer. ``I think as the facts build up, the president is evaluating it and may be inclined to come in,'' Specter said on ABC's ``This Week.'' Committees in both the House and Senate are investigating whether the pardons, including one granted to fugitive financier Marc Rich, were linked to political contributions. Specter said he suggested ``very professional questioning by me with another Democrat, if the president chooses, in an office, his office if he would like, getting to the basic facts.'' Were Clinton to reject the proposal, Specter said he did not know what would happen. ``Technically there could be a subpoena. I don't think that will happen,'' he said, citing the ``sensitivity'' of forcing a president to testify. On Monday, the House Government Reform Committee was expected to get more details about large donations to the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation, which is raising money for a library to be built in Little Rock, Ark. The committee already has received a list of the top donors, but was awaiting specific information, including dates of contributions. Rich's ex-wife, songwriter Denise Rich, contributed $450,000 to the foundation and her friend, Beth Dozoretz, a former finance chairman for the Democratic National Committee, has pledged to raise $1 million for the library project. Dozoretz refused to testify before the House committee last week about her involvement in Rich's pardon, invoking her constitutional right against self-incrimination. Denise Rich also has refused to testify. Noting the almost daily revelations about lobbying by political donors on behalf of pardon applicants, Specter said, ``It naturally raises a question. It doesn't come to a legal conclusion, it won't stand up in court, but I think it is something that ought to be answered, and, again, only the president can give the answer.'' Specter also said that Congress may consider reporting requirements for private foundations like the one handling Clinton's library fund raising, and may look at more lobbying registration requirements for people who seek things from the president. ================================================================= 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 ================================================================= <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
