| For Immediate Release Feb 15, 2001 |
Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
U.S. Attorney for Southern District of New York Conducting Questionable Preliminary Inquiry (Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest law firm that investigates and prosecutes government abuse and corruption, stands virtually alone in its quest to hold Bill and Hillary Clinton accountable for their serious violations of ethics and the law. First, with regard to what has become known as “Pardongate,” the recent statements of President Bush that Americans should simply “move on” and not hold the Clintons accountable for their crimes, has obviously influenced new Attorney General John Ashcroft into following his boss's lead in taking an ambivalent attitude toward the Marc Rich bribery/pardon scheme. The New York Times reports today in an article by David Johnston that:
“The decision by Mary Jo White, a Democratic appointee, to investigate the Rich pardon came just a day after President Bush criticized congressional reviews of the matter, saying it was ‘time to move on.’ Bush’s remark dampened interest within the Justice Department for a criminal investigation, said one source familiar with the matter, which in turn prompted White to act.” Given Mr. Bush’s lack of support, the recently-announced U.S. Attorney’s investigation in New York is little more than “window dressing” and is unlikely to result in much of anything. Even if it did, the U.S. Attorney, Mary Jo White, is a Clinton appointee – unlikely to take any real action against the person who appointed her, Bill Clinton. Indeed, it is incredible that Mary Jo White has remained as U.S. Attorney under the Bush-Cheney Administration, and Judicial Watch is sure that former President Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton are pleased that Ms. White is “investigating” the apparent bribery scheme. Obviously, this is why Mr. Clinton is now “pleased to cooperate.” A special counsel should be appointed to head a “real” criminal investigation. “The American people should not be fooled by the gyrations of Washington politicians and a Clinton-appointed U.S. Attorney. While the Washington press corps likes to write stories about such meaningless gestures – and gives little, if any, consideration to the actions of the American people, through Judicial Watch and other concerned citizens groups – the hard and sad fact is that we are the only ones who are serious about these matters. Indeed, just yesterday, I was removed as a potential witness on the Senate Judiciary Panel “investigating Pardongate,” apparently by Senator Orrin Hatch – who obviously feared Judicial Watch’s comments and non-political findings concerning the ongoing pattern of bribery during the Clinton Administration. Senator Hatch himself was subject to potential investigation over his role in the BCCI banking scandal during the Reno Justice Department reign, and has been the lapdog of the Clinton Administration ever since,” stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman. | |