Perhaps what causes the public to most pause, recognizing again our shocking chagrin surrounding government, is when politics trump wisdom and integrity. I remember my shock some 12 years ago — that ironically yet sadly — remains relevant now…
One of the more private, opportune acts taken by presidents of all persuasions is to pardon persons as the Chief Executive exits his term. A pardon is the complete forgiveness of the crime and the cancellation of any penalty; it cannot be reversed. Therefore, the effect of such act is that it’s as if the crime never occurred.
On Jan. 20, 2001 financier Marc Rich was pardoned by Pres. Bill Clinton.
From accounts shared years ago by Time Magazine, Wikipedia, and syndicated Washington Post columnist, Richard Cohen…
“Rich was a commodities trader who amassed both a fortune and some influential friends in the 1970s and ’80s. Along with his partner, Pincus Green, he was indicted in 1983 on 65 counts of tax evasion and related matters.“
Rich was indicted in federal court of evading more than $48 million in taxes. He was on the FBI’s Ten Most-Wanted Fugitives List.
“Before he could be prosecuted, however, he fled to Switzerland. There he remained, avoiding extradition and eventually arranging to be represented by Jack Quinn, a Washington lawyer and Clinton’s onetime White House counsel — in other words, a certified power broker.”
“Denise Rich, Marc’s ex-wife, had made several large donations to the U.S. Democratic Party and the Clinton Library during Clinton’s time in office.”
“Republicans and Democrats alike were dumbstruck by the Rich pardon. The federal prosecutors who indicted Rich are especially livid, particularly because, by definition, Rich appears to be ineligible for a pardon: He never took responsibility for his actions or served any sentence.”
“It was rare to pardon a fugitive — someone who had avoided possible conviction by avoiding the inconvenience of a trial. The U.S. attorney’s office in New York — which… would oppose any pardon — was kept ignorant of what was going on.”
In the hours before leaving office, Clinton quietly pardoned Rich. Clinton and Quinn actually bypassed the Justice Department’s pardon office — going instead to the Deputy Attorney General, asking for his opinion. The Deputy AG replied, “Neutral, leaning towards favorable.” And then, again in the words of the never-confused-to-be-a-conservative Cohen, “With a stroke of a pen, justice was not done.”
The Deputy Attorney General who authorized the pardon of an unrepentant fugitive was none other than current Attorney General, Eric Holder.
The Intramuralist — just like each of us — has a limited perspective. I do not fully know the heart of another man, as such seems an ability of only the divine — not you nor me. I do not know Eric Holder’s heart. I do know here is the man who holds the highest law enforcement position in the land. He is currently being swarmed and swamped by accusations of unethical behavior, directed with certainty at his department — and with increasing frequency, directed at Holder himself. Targeting the press… Targeting conservative groups… Acting as if reporters were criminals. Did he allow this? Did he authorize such? Is being unaware his only defense?
Holder was fully aware of Marc Rich and yet authorized his pardon. Hence, while our chagrin may increase, we should sadly not be shocked.
Respectfully,
AR