Reluctant witness
declines to answer
pardon questions
Ex-Clinton aides due to testify about
outside contacts, inside conversations
MSNBC STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
WASHINGTON, March 1 — A House committee examining dozens of pardons issued by former President Bill Clinton heard a reluctant witness on Thursday invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The committee had been informed beforehand that Beth Dozoretz, a Democratic fund-raiser who helped raise money for Clinton’s library foundation, would decline to answer its questions.
THE HOUSE GOVERNMENT Reform Committee opened a hearing on the pardons by calling Dozoretz to appear, even though her attorneys had informed the committee that she would not answer their questions.
Asked by Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., whether the pardon request of fugitive financier Marc Rich was discussed in a phone conversation she had with Clinton, Dozoretz replied, “Upon advice of my counsel, I respectfully decline to answer that question based on the protection afforded me by the U.S. Constitution.”
Asked if that would be her response to all further questions directed to her, she added, “Sir, that will be my response to all questions.”
A FRIEND AND A FUND-RAISER
Dozoretz, a former Democratic National Committee finance director, is a friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton and of Rich’s ex-wife, Denise Rich. Dozoretz pledged to raise $1 million for the Bill Clinton library foundation, and helped facilitate $450,000 in contributions by Denise Rich to the foundation. Denise Rich also gave $1.1 million to the Democratic Party and at least $109,000 to Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Senate campaign.
The committee wants to know whether Bill Clinton’s decision to pardon Marc Rich was influenced by contributions to the library. Marc Rich, a billionaire, has lived in Switzerland since just before he was indicted in 1983 on charges of tax evasion, fraud and making illegal oil deals with Iran.
Democrats accused the committee’s Republican majority, led by longtime Clinton foe Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., of orchestrating Dozoretz’s appearance in an attempt to embarrass the former president.
Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., charged that Republicans on the committee were involved in “a feeding frenzy” of “ridiculing President Clinton.”
“These obsessions are unhealthy,” Waxman said.
But Burton said the hearing was necessary because the committee’s investigation so far has produced more questions than answers.
“Why was the president on such a different wavelength from his staff (on the Rich pardon)?”
Burton asked. “Why would the president call a fund-raiser for an opinion (on the pardon), but he wouldn’t call his own Justice Department?”
PODESTA TESTIFIES
After Dozoretz’s brief appearance, the committee began questioning former White House chief of staff John Podesta, former White House counsel Beth Nolan and Clinton adviser Bruce Lindsey about discussions and contacts that led to the issuance of scores of pardons in the final hours of Clinton’s presidency.
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