Marc Rich was one of the "Last Minute midnight" pardons by Clinton. Best I know, Bush has done no pardons yet.
Here's the story:
Monday, Jan. 22, 2001 3:03 p.m. EST
Clinton Pardon of Tax Fugitive Stinks of Payoff
Among the list of Bill Clinton’s last-minute pardons is a notorious tax fugitive.
Marc Rich has been a fugitive from justice for almost two decades after getting caught cheating the IRS of more than $48 million in taxes.
Historically, presidential pardons have been granted to those who show just cause, or have earned, through public service, to have their guilt wiped clean.
Some are wondering why the golden gloves treatment for fugitive Rich.
The Rich pardon has ignited a strong response from New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who, as U.S. Attorney, prosecuted Rich.
Giuliani noted that Rich has done nothing to earn the relief of a pardon.
"He’s been living in luxury in Switzerland," Giuliani told the New York Post.
One obvious reason for the Clinton pardon may have been the fact that Rich’s ex-wife, Denise Rich, is a mega-Democratic fund-raiser in New York, and helped Hillary’s Senate campaign.
Gossip columnist Neal Travis is also reporting in the Post that he hears that Rich "may have promised a huge and untraceable donation to Clinton’s grandiose and financially lagging presidential library in Little Rock."
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