Clinton Fund Raiser Refuses to Testify on PardonsBeth Dozoretz, former finance chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, refused Thursday to testify to Congress about former President Bill Clinton's controversial pardon of financier Marc Rich.Dozoretz, appearing before the House Government Reform Committee, cited her constitutional right against self- incrimination in refusing to answer questions about whether Clinton pardoned Rich in return for campaign contributions from Rich's ex-wife Denise. Rich fled to Switzerland 17 years ago to avoid prosecution on racketeering, wire fraud, income tax evasion and illegal oil trading charges and received a pardon from Clinton on his last day in office on January 20. Dozoretz was recruited by Rich's attorney Jack Quinn to lobby Clinton on the pardon. Quinn, a former White House counsel under Clinton, has testified that Dozoretz spoke to Clinton about Rich at least twice. Appearing after Dozoretz left the room, Clinton's former Chief of Staff John Podesta said that he and two other aides, former White House counsel Beth Nolan and adviser Bruce Lindsey, had all opposed the pardon and told the president of their opinion on January 16. The House panel subpoenaed the three aides in its widening investigation of possible influence peddling or links between campaign donations and the pardon of Rich and others on Clinton's last day in office. Denise Rich gave more than 1 million U.S. dollars to Democratic causes and 450,000 dollars to the Clinton presidential library. |
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