-Caveat Lector- http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/DailyNews/rich010202.html Lawyer Counters Justice Claims on Rich Pardon By Brian Hartman and Jackie Judd ABC NEWS W A S H I N G T O N, Feb. 2 — Countering prosecutors' claims that they were blindsided by President Clinton's pardon of fugitive billionaire Marc Rich, the financier's lawyer has released documents that appear to show a top Justice Department official was briefed about the clemency petition. Jack Quinn, one of Rich's attorneys, has given congressional investigators memos, handwritten notes and e-mails that seem to indicate then-Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder was aware of the controversial clemency petition and even congratulated him on winning the pardon. Clinton's pardon of Rich in the final hours of his presidency sparked a chorus of outrage from law enforcement officials who had been eager to bring the case to trial. Justice officials have expressed outrage that the president made his clemency decision without consulting them. Quinn's Recollection But two days after Clinton issued the pardon, Quinn sent an e-mail to the rest of Rich's legal team: "Just spoke to Holder," Quinn wrote. "Said I did a very good job and that he thinks we should be better about getting legal merits of the case out publicly. I assured him we were and that we were letting the press see the petition and attachments." The e-mail amounts to Quinn's account of the conversation, and absent from the package of documents is any actual communication from Holder that supports Quinn's assertions. Holder also, Quinn claims in the e-mail, suggested Rich's lawyers talk up the fact that he had agreed to waive his right to sue the federal government for legal fees and note that his clemency petition was supported by such VIPs as Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Quinn's package of documents also includes several e-mails with colleagues and a calendar entry that refers to a face-to-face meeting with Holder on Nov. 21, 2000. Even earlier, on Feb. 28, 2000, Quinn tacked a handwritten note to a document titled, "Why [the Justice Department] Should Review the Marc Rich indictment." "Here is the short paper I promised you," the note read. Responding to Justice Department complaints that the agency did not even receive the actual clemency petition, Quinn also released a manifest from his courier company showing that it had been delivered. Scent of a 'Payoff' Rich fled the country for Switzerland 17 years ago to escape prosecution on more than 50 counts, including charges of income tax evasion and illegally trading oil with Iran during the hostage crisis that amount to the biggest tax fraud case in American history. Even Clinton's allies say the pardon, at the very least, was a conflict of interest, particularly given that Rich's ex-wife had showered the Clintons and the Democratic Party with her largesse. Denise Rich has donated more than $1 million to support Democratic candidates, including both Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. She also gave the Clintons an expensive table and chair set they took with them upon leaving the White House. "It looks like, and smells like, a kind of political payoff," former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich said today in an interview on [EMAIL PROTECTED] "You know, sometimes in politics it is possible that what looks and smells one way, is in fact not what it seems. But this has all the appearance of just the worst, worst aspects of a political payoff." The House Government Reform and Oversight Committee will call both Quinn and Holder to testify at hearings that open next Thursday. A spokesman for the committee said both were expected to attend, along with former White House counsel Beth Nolan and Sandy Weinberg, the former lead U.S. attorney on the case. A parallel hearing was set to get under way in the Senate, but Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania — who had threatened to call President Clinton to testify — announced today it would be postponed indefinitely. ================================================================= 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
