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Morning News

House Shifts Focus to Roger Clinton in Presidential Pardon Probe

Aired February 23, 2001 - 10:05 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Here's an update now on the presidential pardon story and the controversy that hits ever closer to home for former President Clinton. The latest ripples now emanate from Roger Clinton, who reportedly asked his half-brother to extend clemency for a handful of people. This latest revelation has stirred outrage among lawmakers and has prompted one House committee to look deeper into the matter.

For the latest, let's go now to CNN national correspondent Eileen O'Connor. She's standing by in Washington -- Eileen.

EILEEN O'CONNOR, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, a spokesperson for President Clinton, Julia Payne, says that Roger Clinton did ask his brother for help, handing him a list of a handful of people, about five people, she said. Now -- but she also said that he never lobbied the president and he asked him only once, that these were people Roger Clinton knew, and that he never took any money for this help that he was giving to these people.

Now, President Clinton handed that list off to the White House counsel's office. And, by the way, none of those people's clemency applications were actually approved. According to Julia Payne, the merits of those cases did not meet the criteria so they were denied, those clemency applications.

Still, Republican Dan Burton has sent a letter to Roger Clinton asking him about a list of five names that he says and wants to know if he, Roger Clinton, actually offered any help to those people, or if, in fact, he got any money for that help.

Now, Julia Payne says three of those people Roger Clinton didn't even know; a fourth he hasn't seen for 15 years; a fifth is a very good friend of his, but, she says, he was denied his clemency application.

So this, though, comes a day after Mrs. Clinton, Sen. Clinton now, was trying to put all of this controversy behind them, particularly the controversy surrounding her brother, Hugh Rodham, a lawyer, who had taken $400,000 in fees on -- for help on two clemency applications. Those clemency applications were, in fact, granted and were very controversial, as the Justice Department in at least one case, sources say, advised against the commutation of a sentence. In another case, the actual application went around the Justice Department.

Mrs. Clinton says this is certainly overshadowing her work as a senator.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: Well, you know, I'm very disappointed about what's gone on for the last weeks. It is certainly not how I would have preferred or planned to start my Senate career. And I regret deeply that there has been these kinds of matters occurring. And all I can tell you is that I have gotten up every day and worked as hard as I can to be the best senator I can be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'CONNOR: Now, President Clinton is releasing from his library foundation some documents to the congressional committee, but not all that they had requested. The committee themselves says that is unacceptable and may well subpoena the head of the Presidential Library Foundation to look at donor lists there and see if there's any connections to any donors to the library and other pardons that were granted -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, thanks much, Eileen O'Connor, reporting live from Washington.

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