Marc Rich: Clinton Op-ed Further Stirs Controversy

Clinton's pardon of Rich, who has lived lavishly in Switzerland as a fugitive since 1983, has led to an investigation by federal prosecutors in New York as well as congressional hearings. Rich was indicted on tax evasion charges, as well as racketeering, violating trade regulations, and fraud. Clinton claimed in his op-ed piece in the New York Times that he made the decision "on the merits as I saw them, and I take full responsibility for it."

He went on to say that "the suggestion that I granted the pardons because Mr. Rich's former wife, Denise, made political contributions and contributed to the Clinton library foundation is utterly false. There was absolutely no quid pro quo." Those investigating the case wish to know if the former Mrs. Rich acted as an intermediary by passing money directly from Rich to Clinton, in exchange for which Clinton would, presumably, grant the pardon. Mrs. Rich has made large contributions to Hillary Clinton's successful senate bid and has reportedly donated $450,000 to the Clinton library foundation.

In the piece, Clinton also asserts that "the case for the pardons was reviewed and advocated" by three Republican attorneys. These were Lewis Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff; Leonard Garment, a former Nixon White House official; and William Bradford Reynolds, who ran the Justice Department's civil rights division under President Reagan.

All three men noted in the piece were very surprised to be named by Clinton in the op-ed, as none of them had any involvement in the pardons. Clinton later noted that he based the pardon on past arguments by the three attorneys, who had each defended Rich. But even a later correction by Clinton, during a Times press run, still seemed to confuse the issue and suggest that the three prominent Republican attorneys were involved with and supported the pardon. Each vehemently denied that suggestion.