NewsMax.com Wires
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001

Today, Specter will chair the Senate’s Judiciary Committee as it investigates whether the pardon was improperly issued or given as the result of a bribe to then-President Clinton.

Last Sunday, Specter argued that Congress may want to consider new impeachment charges against the former president.

His idea has been scoffed at by media pundits, but Specter took to the airwaves yesterday, suggesting the impeachment was a legitimate way to indict the former president for wrongdoing.

The impeachment process. Specter said, would also allow Congress to strip Clinton of the "emoluments" of office, including his pension, office staff and security detail.

Specter will also examine in his hearing whether the pardon granted to Rich was valid.

A Justice Department memo states that "President Clinton granted Mr. Rich a full and unconditional pardon after completion of sentence." Specter believes that because Rich has not been sentenced for his crimes, the pardon may not apply.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, the chairman of the committee, who has temporarily turned his gavel over to Specter, said Clinton should testify and "clear the air" on his actions relating to Rich and other pardons he gave before leaving office.

The Senate reportedly will follow in the footsteps of the House Government Reform Committee, which sent out subpoenas this week seeking documents and bank records from Denise Rich, the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton presidential library foundation in Little Rock, Ark.

There has been widespread belief that Clinton gave the Rich pardon in exchange for donations either to his wife’s Senate campaign or for his library. If true, such donations could be construed as a bribe.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Pardongate
Sen. Hillary Clinton
Clinton Scandals

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