Perhaps what causes the public to most pause, recognizing again our shocking chagrin surrounding government, is when politics trump wisdom and integrity.\u00a0 I remember my shock some 12 years ago \u2014 that ironically yet sadly \u2014 remains relevant now…<\/p>\n
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One of the more private, opportune acts taken by presidents of all persuasions is to pardon persons as the Chief Executive exits his term.\u00a0 A pardon is the complete<\/em><\/strong> forgiveness of the crime and<\/em><\/strong> the cancellation of any penalty; it cannot be reversed.\u00a0 Therefore, the effect of such act is that it\u2019s as if the crime never occurred.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On Jan. 20, 2001 financier Marc Rich was pardoned by Pres. Bill Clinton.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From accounts shared years ago by Time Magazine<\/em>, Wikipedia, and syndicated Washington Post columnist, Richard Cohen…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cRich was a commodities trader who amassed both a fortune and some influential friends in the 1970s and ’80s.\u00a0 Along with his partner, Pincus Green, he was indicted in 1983 on 65 counts of tax evasion and related matters.\u201c<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rich was indicted in federal court of evading more than $48 million in taxes.\u00a0 He was on the FBI’s Ten Most-Wanted Fugitives List.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBefore 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 \u2014 in other words, a certified power broker.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDenise Rich, Marc\u2019s ex-wife, had made several large donations to the U.S. Democratic Party and the Clinton Library during Clinton’s time in office.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cRepublicans and Democrats alike were dumbstruck by the Rich pardon.\u00a0 The federal prosecutors who indicted Rich are especially livid, particularly because, by definition, Rich appears to be ineligible for a pardon:\u00a0 He never took responsibility for his actions or served any sentence.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt was rare to pardon a fugitive \u2014 someone who had avoided possible conviction by avoiding the inconvenience of a trial.\u00a0 The U.S. attorney’s office in New York \u2014 which… would oppose any pardon \u2014 was kept ignorant of what was going on.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the hours before leaving office, Clinton quietly pardoned Rich.\u00a0 Clinton and Quinn actually bypassed the Justice Department\u2019s pardon office \u2014 going instead to the Deputy Attorney General, asking for his opinion.\u00a0 The Deputy AG replied, “Neutral, leaning towards favorable.”\u00a0 And then, again in the words of the never-confused-to-be-a-conservative Cohen, \u201cWith a stroke of a pen, justice was not done.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Deputy Attorney General who authorized the pardon of an unrepentant fugitive was none other than current Attorney General, Eric Holder.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Intramuralist \u2014 just like each of us \u2014 has a limited perspective.\u00a0 I do not fully know the heart of another man, as such seems an ability of only the divine \u2014 not you nor me.\u00a0 I do not know Eric Holder\u2019s heart.\u00a0 I do know here is the man who holds the highest law enforcement position in the land.\u00a0 He is currently being swarmed and swamped by accusations of unethical behavior, directed with certainty<\/strong> at his department\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and with increasing frequency, directed at Holder himself.\u00a0 Targeting the press…\u00a0 Targeting conservative groups… \u00a0Acting as if reporters were criminals.\u00a0 Did he allow this?\u00a0 Did he authorize such?\u00a0 Is being unaware his only defense?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Holder was fully aware of Marc Rich and yet authorized his pardon.\u00a0 Hence, while our chagrin may increase, we should sadly not be shocked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully,<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n Perhaps what causes the public to most pause, recognizing again our shocking chagrin surrounding government, is when politics trump wisdom and integrity.\u00a0 I remember my shock some 12 years ago \u2014 that ironically yet sadly \u2014 remains relevant now… One of the more private, opportune acts taken by presidents of all persuasions is to … <\/p>\n