Posted on 11/14/2003 4:08:11 AM EST by kattracks
The feds have evidence that Democratic fund-raiser Denise Rich violated an immunity arrangement by not telling prosecutors the whole truth during their investigation of Pardongate, sources say. The sources said federal law enforcement has enough evidence to bring obstruction of justice counts against Rich but that no decision has been made on whether to charge her.For nearly three years, the feds have been probing how the socialite songwriter's ex-husband, Marc Rich, won a pardon from President Bill Clinton during his last hours in office.
Marc Rich, a multimillionaire fugitive, was charged in 1983 with bilking the federal government of $48 million in income taxes and buying illegal oil from Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis.
Investigators want to know whether Marc Rich illegally funneled donations to Clinton and Democratic causes through his wife in return for the pardon.
Prosecutors from the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office asked a federal judge to order Denise Rich, who admitted lobbying Clinton for the pardon, to answer their questions. She did so, speaking to prosecutors and the FBI during numerous so-called "proffer" sessions in 2001.
Under an arrangement with the feds, Rich was granted immunity from prosecution - as long as she told the truth and spilled everything she knew.
Two sources told the Daily News that investigators recently discovered Rich breached that arrangement, either by lying or by not revealing potentially illegal activities she knew about.
During her many sessions with prosecutors, the sources said, Rich talked about her one-on-one discussions with Clinton and about the $1million-plus she raised for Clinton and Democratic causes.
The sources would not say whether Rich discussed her $450,000 donation to the Clinton Presidential Library.
Sources say Rich admitted reimbursing several of her employers for their donations to Hillary Clinton's successful campaign for Senate in 1999, a practice that is illegal.
Yesterday Denise Rich's attorney, Thomas Fitzpatrick, said, "I have never heard from the U.S. attorney that she was less than truthful. ... There's no breach of her obligation of truthfulness that I know of."
Marvin Smilon, a spokesman for Manhattan U.S. Attorney James Comey, declined to comment.
Originally published on November 14, 2003
Nice find, TR.
So Denise lied? Watta surprise (/sarc).
Of course, if someone has to be the "sacrifical lamb" for the outrage of the Rich pardon, it would be really, really nice if it turned out to be Denise the Bag Lady.