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Show 4 THE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2001 SUN Clintons brother received money to help get clemency for two convicts By Tribune Media Services Former President Bill WASHINGTON received hundreds Clinton's brother-in-laof thousands of dollars to help get special presidential clemency for two convicts, and Clinton, already under fire for one controversial pardon, rushed to quell another brewing uproar late Wednesday. Hugh Rodham, Hillary Clinton's brother, received about $400,000 for helping pave the way for a pardon for Almon Glenn Braswell, convicted of fraud and tax evasion, and a prison commutation for Carlos Vignali, who was serving time on drug charges, Nancy Luque, Rodham's Washington attorney, confirmed Wednesday. Clinton, in a statement issued late Wednesday, said he insisted Rodham, a Florida lawyer, return any money paid him by the two men. "Yesterday 1 became aware of press inquires that Hugh Rodham received a contingency fee in connection with a pardon application for Glenn Braswell and a fee for work on Carlos Vignali's commutation application," Clinton said. "Neither Hillary nor I had any knowledge of such payments. We are deeply disturbed by these reports and have insisted that Hugh return any moneys received," he said. "Hugh Rodham has done absolutely nothing wrong," Luque said in a statement late Wednesday. "He has returned these fees solely because his family has asked that he do so. Their request, presumably made because of the appearance of impropriety, is one he cannot ignore. There was, however, no impropriety in these matters." Rodham, a failed 1994 candidate for a U.S. Senate seat from Florida, had not told the Clintons about his involvement with Braswell or Vignali's requests, according to Luque. Neither Braswell, Vignali nor their lawyers could be reached for comment. Rodham's role in Clinton's controversial final days is the latest development in a story that has prompted up to three congressional investigations and enraged Democrats who believe Clinton has squandered whatever good will he took with him after eight years in the White House. Rep. Dan Burton, the Republican chairman of the House of Representatives committee investigating Clinton's pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich, said the reports of Rodham's role in Clinton's clemency orders "is deeply disturbing. He said he would call Rodham before the committee. "Yet again, this makes it look like there is one system of justice for those with money and influence, and one system of justice for everyone else," Burton said. "We intend to look into this. We intend to ask Mr. Rodham to give us all the details of whom he represented and how much he was paid." Burton sent a letter Wednesday evening to Rodham, demanding to know whether Rodham has represented any clients seeking executive clemency since 1992. He also asked whether Rodham or any member of his law firm was in touch with Clinton, the former first lady or other White House personnel in order to "advocate a pardon or commutation." News of the payments to Clinton's brother in law comes as the former president continues to face cnticism and investigations of his pardon of financier Marc Rich, a multimillionaire fugitive from charges of tax evasion whose former wife contributed heavily to the Clintons and the Democrats. On Tuesday, former President Jimmy Carter, a fellow Democrat, lambasted Clinton in a speech at Georgia Southwestern State University. "President Clinton made one of his most serious mistakes in the way he handled the pardon situation the last few hours he was in office," Carter said. "A number of them were quite questionable, including about 40 not recommended by the Justice Department." He added, "I don't think there is any doubt that some of the factors in his pardon (of Rich) were attributable to his large gifts. In my opinion, that was disgraceful." In his statement, Clinton said nothing about what motivated him to pardon Braswell or commute Vignali's sentence. Though a first time offender; Vignali received a stiff sentence when prosecutors described him as a major player in a drug conspiracy. He had served six years of a sentence when he was freed Jan. 20 by Clinton's order. Vignali's father, Horacio Vignali, is a wealthy Democratic contributor from Los Angeles. Braswell, 57, was convicted for fraud in the 1983 marketing of a baldness treatment. He had been sentenced to three years in prison and five years probation. Unlike Rich or Vignali's family, Braswell was not a Democratic donor. Instead he contributed $25,000 to George W. Bush's campaign and $150,000 to the Florida Republican Party. The Bush camp and the Florida party returned the money upon learning that Braswell Was a convicted felon. Braswell was under a new investigation in what Los Angeles court documents called g a "massive" tax evasion and scheme. Already under way for 18 months, the investigation centers on the alleged use of a Bermuda shell corporation in a tax scheme. His application for a pardon bypassed the normal Justice Department review. Clinton's pardon will not stop the investigation, or any new criminal charges. In the other controversial Clinton parof financier Marc Rich had don, the contributed heavily to Democrats and to Clinton. Braswell had contributed to Republicans. But his $175,000 in donations to the campaign of Bush and the Florida Republican party last year were returned after GOP officials learned he was a convicted felon. The pardon of Rich set off investigations, both by the U.S. Attorney in New York and the Congress, as well as waves of criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike. money-launderin- U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill on Thursday, February 22, 2001. She talked about her brother Hugh Rodham and his involvement in recent presidential pardons. photo by Tribune Media Services $2 for 2 lines Sun Classifieds Advising Corner by Student Support Services Sponsored MONDAY, MARCH 5 is the last day To AUDIT or DROP classes For SPRING Semester Students may drop or audit a class up to the seventh week ot the semester by filling out a drop or audit card and handing it in at the Registrars Window. This must be done by Monday, March 5, 2001. WHY AUDIT? If you are enrolled in a class that you are failing or receiving less than passing grade, it would be to your advantage to audit the class rather than fail it. Auditing a class still allows you to attend the class to receive the information but not earn a grade or credit. Rather than an F on your transcripts there will be an AU for audit. The audited will not be figured into your semester or cumulative GPA. WHY DROP? If you are enrolled in a class where you are failing, it would be advantageous to drop the class. From the point that you drop the class, you no longer attend. The class would not be figured into your GPA. Remember if you are on financial aid or scholarship, you must maintain a minimum number of credit hours each semester, 1 2 credits for financial aid and 1 5 credits for scholarship. If your credit hours drop below the required amount you should consider adding a late course to keep your required hours. If you have any questions about whether to drop or audit a class, consult with your instructor or any of the campus advisors. Meet with your instructor to review your grade. mid-semest- er |
