Ashcroft: Clinton Creates Conflict of Interest by Raising Ca
Ashcroft: Clinton Creates Conflict of Interest by Raising Campaign Money for
House, Senate Candidates
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Democratic candidates who make
themselves beholden to the President for campaign money are damaging
their credibility as jurors in a potential impeachment proceeding, U.S.
Sen. John Ashcroft (R-Mo.) said today.
Ashcroft called on Democrat candidates for the Senate and House to
decline fund-raising help from the President, in order to strengthen
public confidence in the integrity of an impeachment proceeding to
remove the President from office.
"Since when does a likely defendant give money to jurors? It is
ridiculous even to ask the question. The answer is, 'Never,'" Ashcroft
said. "In an impeachment proceeding, the constitutional role of
Senators is to sit as jurors on impeachment articles voted by the House
of Representatives. The public must have high confidence in the
fairness of the proceedings. For jurors to take campaign money from the
defendant, directly and indirectly, inevitably raises questions about
whether a conflict of interest has been created.
"In a criminal case, a defendant who gives a juror money could be
prosecuted for the federal crime of jury tampering and face up to 10
years in prison. The President may already have broken laws, like
perjury and obstruction of justice, designed to protect the justice
system. He shouldn't become involved in political jury tampering.
"Will Americans believe that legislators will handle this case
impartially when they have joined with this discredited President at
political fund-raisers? To entangle campaign fund-raising with
impeachment is bad for public confidence. The bottom line is people who
may vote on the case shouldn't take money from a President who faces an
impeachment proceeding.
"Obviously, in raising money for campaigns and party organizations, the
President and First Lady have the opportunity to gain more than the
mere political goodwill of people who will vote on impeachment. In the
grave situation created by the President's scandalous misconduct,
Senate and House candidates should take immediate steps to separate
themselves from presidential fund-rasing. If they fail to do so, they
will undermine public confidence in their ability to be fair and
impartial."
The President's announced fund-raising schedule includes campaign
events and party "unity" dinners today in San Jose, Calif., (unity
dinner with the President) and San Francisco (dinner for Sen. Barbara
Boxer, with First Lady); in Chicago (event for Rep. Glenn Poshard, who
is running for Illinois Governor).
In coming weeks, presidential campaign events are scheduled for Rep.
Charles Schumer, Senate candidate in New York (October 12); Sen. Carol
Moseley-Braun of Illinois (Oct. 16); and a unity dinner in St. Louis
with Rep. Richard Gephardt, Gov. Mel Carnahan and Senate candidate Jay
Nixon (Oct. 16).
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