The Chicago Tribune says, “President-elect Barack Obama would like to nominate former top Justice Department official Eric Holder Jr. to be his attorney general, and his transition team is now trying to gauge whether there is sufficient bipartisan support for him in the Senate, sources close to the transition confirmed Tuesday. … Holder, a well-regarded prosecutor turned corporate lawyer in private practice, would be the nation’s first African-American attorney general. He did not respond to calls and e-mails seeking comment, and Obama’s transition team declined to discuss the matter, except to say that he had neither been offered the job nor accepted it. ”
Holder is no stranger to the Justice Department and no stranger to being noncommittal. Wikipedia notes that Holder played an interesting part in pardoning fugitive from justice Marc Rich.
In his final days with the Clinton administration, Holder was swept into the controversy surrounding President Clinton’s last-minute pardon of fugitive and Democratic contributor Marc Rich. Between November 2000 and January 2001 Jack Quinn, Rich’s lawyer and former White House Counsel from 1995-96, had been contacting Holder, testing the waters for the political viability of a presidential pardon. After presenting his case to Holder in a November phone call and a last minute January 17th letter, Quinn arranged a phone call between the White House and Holder, asking the Deputy Attorney General to share his opinion on the Rich pardon. Ultimately, Holder gave a “neutral, leaning towards favorable” opinion of the pardon to Clinton.
During his February testimonies before the House Government Reform Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee, Holder argued his phone call was not intended as a formal Justice Department blessing of the pardon, saying, “my interaction with the White House, I did not view as a recommendation. Because… I didn’t have the ability to look at all the materials that had been vetted through the way we normally vet materials.” He also did not believe his opinion would be interpreted as a go-ahead for the pardon. “What I said to the White House counsel ultimately was that I was neutral on this because I didn’t have a factual basis to make a determination as to whether or not Mr. Quinn’s contentions were in fact accurate, whether or not there had been a change in the law, a change in the applicable Justice Department regulations, and whether or not that was something that would justify the extraordinary grant of a pardon.” An investigation championed by House Government Reform Committee chairman Rep. Dan Burton concluded, in a 2003 report covering 177 Clinton pardons, that Holder had played a significant role in facilitating the Rich pardon, first by recommending the well-connected Jack Quinn to Marc Rich legal representatives, and by eventually delivering a favorable opinion of the twilight pardon to the President from a position of authority.
For those who’ve forgotten Marc Rich, here’s a thumbnail sketch of the Clinton pardon affair, which incidentally illustrates the interlocking set of relationships that bind the very highest ranks of Washington society.
In 1983 Rich and partner Pincus Green were indicted by U.S. Attorney and future mayor of New York City Rudolph Giuliani, on charges of tax evasion and illegal trading with Iran. They were indicted while they were in Switzerland. The pair failed to return to the U.S. following the indictment, and were on the FBI’s Most Wanted List for many years.
On January 20, 2001, hours before leaving office, President Bill Clinton granted Rich a presidential pardon. Since Rich’s former wife and mother of his three children, socialite Denise Rich, had made large donations to the Democratic Party and the Clinton Library during Clinton’s time in office, Clinton’s critics alleged that Rich’s pardon had been bought. Rich had also made substantial donations to Israeli charitable foundations. Clinton explained his decision by noting that similar situations were settled in civil, not criminal court, and cited clemency pleas from Israeli government officials, including Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Federal Prosecutor Mary Jo White was appointed to investigate. She stepped down before the investigation was finished and was replaced by James Comey. Though Comey was critical of Clinton’s pardons, he could not find any grounds on which to indict him.
During hearings after Rich’s pardon, Lewis “Scooter” Libby, who had represented Rich from 1985 until the spring of 2000, denied that Rich had violated the tax laws but criticized him for trading with Iran at a time when that country was holding U.S. hostages. In his letter to the New York Times, Bill Clinton explained why he pardoned Rich, noting that U.S. tax professors Bernard Wolfman of Harvard Law School and Martin Ginsburg of Georgetown University Law Center concluded that no crime was committed, and that the companies’ tax reporting position was reasonable. In the same letter Clinton listed Libby as one of three “distinguished Republican lawyers” who supported Rich’s pardon. His pardon was curiously supported also by the king of Spain, Juan Carlos I. Speculation about another rationale for Rich’s pardon involves his alleged involvement with the Israeli Intelligence community.
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24 Comments
1. davod:I would like to know who recommended releasing the Puerto Rican terrorrists, the Weather Underground terrorists and the Orthodox Jews (You know, the ones who flock always voted strictly conservative, but all voted for Hillary).
Nov 19, 2008 - 2:27 am 2. Lifeofthemind:Wretchard, may we have a Piracy thread? Big things happening out there.
Nov 19, 2008 - 6:08 am 3. Lifeofthemind:The good news would be if the corruptocrats are content to simply move back in and make a pig’s breakfast out of the next four years. That is if they do not let the Ayers, Wright, HuffPo/Move-On lunatic fringe in. There is nothing to support a belief that the worst won’t happen.
Nov 19, 2008 - 6:13 am 4. Herb:WSJ today has an article about the “activists and advocates” the One is going to appoint to significant regulatory positions. One’s a California woman who tried to cut CO2 emissions by 30%.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122705988036839731.html
I has occurred to me that Obama has not had a life or the time to consider the ramifications of some of the policies he wants. See his statement on coal fired power plants. See the famous 52 sec. video on our need to disarm. See the talk about the Civilian Security Force.
He may be smart. He may be articulate. But he is, if nothing else, callow.
I dont think this will end well for him. Or us for that matter.
Nov 19, 2008 - 7:36 am 5. peterike:So now we are to reminded relentlessly that Obama selects the “first African-American this” and the “first African-American that.” Meanwhile, Bush got no credit at all for his appointments.
And besides, hasn’t the hard Left told us for decades that “race” does not exist? That it is a mere “construct” of the white hegemonic power structure? It seems the Left is pretty certain race exists now.
Nov 19, 2008 - 7:48 am 6. trangbang68:Agree with Davod. No doubt the Jewish and Puerto Rican pardons were to get votes in the New York Senate race, but what was the possible benefit of releasing Susan Rosenberg, the convicted Weatherman terrorist? The only thing I can see is a philosophical agreement with the aims of the leftist terrorists.
Nov 19, 2008 - 8:18 am 7. F:Interestingly, the media was silent on these pardons but watch what happens if Bush pardons Scooter Libby or Ramos and Campion.
I find myself in total agreement with Herb at #4: Obama does not have the experience to avoid being taken in by Washington insiders. Holder might be an outstanding lawyer and judge, but he is also an insider. If Obama truly plans to bring change to Washington he needs to reach far outside the beltway (beyond Chicago, but not quite to California) for staff. And he needs to avoid using Clinton retreads. He does not appear to be doing either one of these things. F
Nov 19, 2008 - 8:32 am 8. Mongoose:The bad news is that intelligence, national security, sensitive technology and national competitiveness will also be out their for the bidding — or maybe just in the remainders bin. Not too helpful at this point in our struggles. We are likely to out of these for year with not one but two or three near peer powers breathing down our necks.
Wheeee…look out below!!! Gosh this fun…Private Kings are We!!.
What a joke we have become. The onset of senility.
We have not had a democrat administration that has not been a complete disaster for the country.
“Trusting an honest crook” would be alright if they did not want to burn up the whole ship just for the fun of it.
Nov 19, 2008 - 8:35 am 9. RLS:I’ve always believed that Bubba (and probably Hillary) are many millions richer from a Swiss bank account set up by Marc Rich as quid pro quo for the pardon.
Nov 19, 2008 - 8:49 am 10. Mongoose:F: Obama never wanted to “bring change” to DC. Really now, that’s a good one.
Change here might mean 3 things:
1) Elect democrats.
2) The smaller amount of currency in their pocket when they arrive.
3) The even smaller amount that will be left in the coffers when they leave (if we are so lucky to ever see them go).
He really meant “Make change in Washington”.
(or maybe “bring a change” to Washington as it is going to get pretty crappy.)
That is not to say that they would not make over the whole shebang in to a Soviet mess if they could, that would just be gravy. The term “National Mall” takes on new resonance and relevance.
Bring change to Washington indeed.
Do you think this nitwit is in charge?!? Seriously.
The truly amazing thing is the Bush ran one of the cleanest administrations in history.
Watch heaps of Bush “scandals” come to the for now — and barrels of ink spent on them — all to distract us from this open air, in the light of day thievery. I see where Cheney has already been indited for something down Texas way, and look now how they are stealing elections right out in the open — The business in MN is beyond belief. You would ground a teenager for six months if he tried such open lying tactics at home.
Just watch, Screaming, rabid, hysterical denouncements of the GOP whilst they auctioning off the country and its future. ANd what the public swallow it hook line and sinker.
Pirate Kings are We!
Nov 19, 2008 - 8:55 am 11. Mongoose:out their= out there
Nov 19, 2008 - 8:55 am 12. Charles:Here’s a guy who agrees with Richard’s proposition that the money spent to ward off the depression has been squandered in much the same way as troops in WWI were squandered against machine guns. The guy further argues that really nothing was learned from the Japanese experience back in the 90’s. The same mistakes have been made. His proof is charting action on the stock marketI that shows that the market is ready to crash through 8000.
I dunno.
Nov 19, 2008 - 8:56 am 13. Mongoose:I
RLS: Sure they are. And not just them I’d bet. And no real outcry at all.
Such corruption! Makes the Latin Americans look like pikers.
Nov 19, 2008 - 8:57 am 14. Charles:The problem with a really big extended depression is that it means that oil prices drop way down. That is back to 40-30 dollars a barrel. That represents a very large tax cut and an increase in efficiency that goes directly to bottom line wealth of people. This was something that Reagan enjoyed in the early 80’s.
Alaska oil dropped below 50 today and international spot prices were about 54.
The Japanese didn’t start throwing money at zombie companies until four years after their meltdown. It can be argued that the big three US auto companies and AIG are zombie companies. But so far, my understanding is that much of the money spent has been to recapitalize US banks that had the best chance of surviving.
The bad news with lower fuel prices is that it lowers the incentives to get off dependence on foreign oil–while making it difficult for alternative energy producers to compete.
Nov 19, 2008 - 9:15 am 15. dkite:Charles: If oil is below 50 for any period of time, in no way could it be construed as good news. It means no one is buying.
Canadian oil sands will be mothballed if it says below 50 or so.
The moment there is any demand, prices will go up.
If the prices are staying that low, that is really bad news.
Derek
Nov 19, 2008 - 9:49 am 16. Staring In Disbelief:I can’t believe that there isn’t a safer choice for AG tan this guy Holder and his Clinton Slime Trail. It’s not Big Scandal, but it’s one of the smaller dents in the armor that will eventually pile up. Maybe Obama’s future will be “Slime Eruptions” instead of “Bimbo Eruptions” and they’ll happen AFTER he is elected instead of before. All the McCain voters knew this crap would happen. All of the die hard libs don’t care. The 20% in the middle that decided this damn thing won’t want to hear it. For awhile.
Interesting times.
Nov 19, 2008 - 10:02 am 17. RWE:Another interesting fact about Marc Rich is that he is listed among the recipients of the Oil For Food money from Saddam Hussein.
The Democrats opposed getting rid of Hussein for the same reason they opposed reigning in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: Such actions imperiled their funding sources.
Nov 19, 2008 - 10:03 am 18. David M:The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the – Web Reconnaissance for 11/19/2008 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often.
Nov 19, 2008 - 10:43 am 19. rab:It will be disappointing if President Bush does not pardon Ramos and Campion. I don’t think he will. It would be wise for H. Obama to do so at the very beginning of his term.
Nov 19, 2008 - 11:24 am 20. Roderick Reilly:“”"”"”"peterike:
So now we are to reminded relentlessly that Obama selects the “first African-American this” and the “first African-American that.” Meanwhile, Bush got no credit at all for his appointments. “”"”"”"”
Indeed. Colin Powell? Condi Rice?
Nothing historical there, no sir.
Nov 19, 2008 - 3:47 pm 21. Roderick Reilly:Holder has baggage, but at least he ain’t Jamie Gorelick.
Nov 19, 2008 - 3:47 pm 22. Fat Man:7. F: Suckah!
9. RLS. number had at least 9 digits. Holder was just told to go stand in the corner and keep his mouth shut.
Nov 19, 2008 - 9:19 pm 23. exDemocrat:Holder is an absolute disgrace with his FALN and Rich pardons.
If you’ve seen a pic of Denise Rich’s chest you’ll know why Bubba never stood a chance.
Nov 20, 2008 - 9:34 pm 24. 3Case:“…but watch what happens if Bush pardons Scooter Libby or Ramos and Campion.”
If Bush43 fails to pardon Libby, Campion and Ramos, he will demonstrate that he lacks, shall we say, onions.
There is whining currently about what to do with the released Gitmo deathboys since their own countries won’t take them back. My thought is use some TARP money to buy houses in Marin County for them. Some SUVs and panel trucks, too, so that Detroit benefits, also.
Nov 21, 2008 - 2:41 amSorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.