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Clintons Leave Lawyers High & Dry on Legal Tab
New York Daily News ^ | 13 May 2002 | TIMOTHY J. BURGER

Posted on 05/13/2002 9:24:30 AM PDT by Asmodeus

Clintons Leave Lawyers High & Dry on Legal Tab

By TIMOTHY J. BURGER Daily News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON

Bill and Hillary Clinton have become fabulously wealthy since leaving the White House, but they're still stiffing their lawyers, the Daily News has learned.

Various documents and sources familiar with the Clintons' legal debts reveal they have yet to retire hefty bills from the Whitewater, Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky scandals, as well as Bill Clinton's impeachment battle.

The former President owes $1 million to Robert Bennett, his Paula Jones attorney. Bennett's firm hasn't seen a nickel in nearly a year.

The Clintons also are believed to be in seven-figure hock to David Kendall. He and Bennett refused to comment.

A year ago, Clinton aides confirmed the former First Couple still owed $3.9 million in legal fees. Since the Clintons left the White House in January 2001, their legal defense fund has paid $254,000 to Kendall's firm, Williams & Connolly, and $86,000 to Skadden Arps, Bennett's firm.

In all, about $7.7 million in legal debts have been paid off. But the fund is now tapped out, and the Clintons haven't done any new fund-raising for it.

It's possible the Clintons may have paid some of Kendall's outstanding tab from their own pockets, but a Clinton loyalist said that was unlikely.

"They would prefer not to [pay] and don't think they should have to," said one former senior aide.

Aides to Sen. Clinton and her husband refused to say how much — if anything — the couple might have paid themselves.

"They have publicly disclosed everything they're required to disclose," said Jim Kennedy, a spokesman for the senator.

Washington lawyer Tony Essaye, who ran the defense fund for years, said he has not been informed that any of the Clintons' outstanding $3.9 million debt has been paid down.

The Clintons' financial fortunes have brightened considerably since a dramatic 1998 fund-raising letter for the legal trust said they faced a "financial crisis" of bills "far beyond the President's total compensation or the First Family's net worth."

Now, the Clintons' personal wealth includes $18 million in book advances and $10 million to $15 million that the ex-President has raked in for speeches. They also receive $302,000 a year in federal checks for his pension and her senatorial salary.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: clinton
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To: Asmodeus
Is this a way for Bennet and the others to sneak a pro bono donation to Clinton? If so, Clinton should be held liable for taxes, as that would be considered income. Also, Bennet would be liable for gift taxes...not certain, however. Would need a tax person to say fer shur.
41 posted on 05/13/2002 3:18:41 PM PDT by Mamzelle
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To: poet
Wait just a minute, those lawyers should be paying the clintons for getting to defend them. Look how much advertizing they got for their firms. They were on TV everynight for a while. Am I speaking clintonese? heh heh
42 posted on 05/13/2002 3:42:07 PM PDT by Ditter
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To: poet
So William Jefferson (affectionally known as "B.J.") Clinton is in the news again. I see by the tabloids that Chelsea is going to have a $1,000,000 wedding. I'm sure that his former lawyers will not mind delaying their payment until after the last chick has left the nest.
43 posted on 05/13/2002 4:05:21 PM PDT by FloridaGeezer
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To: Asmodeus
I'm sure that the lawyers never planned on getting paid. The problem is they couldn't just give millions of dollars in legal services to a sitting president. It wouldn't look good plus I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be legal. By waiting until Clinton was out of office and just not collecting they can slip it in the back door.
44 posted on 05/13/2002 4:37:51 PM PDT by Bubba_Leroy
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To: Asmodeus
When someone owes you a large sum, he takes the attitude that he owns you: you have to do whatever he says or he won't pay you.

So the stiffees have to Lewinsky to get their $.

45 posted on 05/13/2002 4:38:00 PM PDT by Ross Amann
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To: Zack Nguyen
WELL, NOW; BOTH the "Clintoons" are members of the "Brotherhood of Lawyers!"

For them to "Stiff" a "Fellow Lawyer" is a Radical Departure from normal "Bar" behavior!

Their "Colleagues" would (under "normal circumstances") expect the "Clintoons," (Legal Colleagues) to arrange for some SUCKER(s) to "Foot the Bill!!"

ALAS!! The "Clintoons" have "burned SO many LEGAL "Bridges," they have NO SUCKERS LEFT!!

So the "Bills" go Unpaid---& the inherent Phoniness of the "System" is furthur exposed!

ONCE AGAIN, the Corrupt Behavior of these "people" exposes a Terrible Flaw in our Legal System.

Ultimately--If we learn from their Corruption--, the "Clintoons" may help us rescue our Republic!

Doc

46 posted on 05/13/2002 5:16:11 PM PDT by Doc On The Bay
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To: Howlin
...they're still stiffing their lawyers...

Yet the impeached *Pair can afford a few multimillion dollar mansions and international vacations every other week. At this rate, there won't be any loot left. Chelsea better elope...

47 posted on 05/13/2002 5:30:31 PM PDT by Libloather
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To: Asmodeus
Let's see a U.S. Senator that owes this much money is at risk. WAIT! NO! It's the make the law up as we go along perjurious Clinton's THAT'S RIGHT!!! HOW COULD I FORGET how special they are, they are above all rules and laws and debt. They are revolting!
48 posted on 05/13/2002 5:36:58 PM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
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To: Asmodeus
Prince William the Impeached has visited 30 (yes, THIRTY) foreign nations since he left office in January 2001.
Wonder WHO is paying for those little trips?? [As if we don't already know...]

Two low-life lawyers stiffing a bunch of other low-life lawyers -- PRICELESS.

49 posted on 05/13/2002 5:41:17 PM PDT by TheGrimReaper
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To: All
We are killing ourselves to pay lawyer bills to the tune of a mere $20,000. But we are doing it, come hell or high water, and every spare penny goes into satisfying that debt. We live on a pittance compared with King William and Queen Hillary. I guess they were right. "The rich" (meaning themselves) are immoral. Funny. Those people who criticize GW for being born with a silver spoon in his mouth will probably find him paying his bills. But in their view, this means nothing. You're a villain if you were born into wealth, but if you were raised in a whorehouse by a madam and a drunk, well, that qualifies you as a man of the people.
50 posted on 05/13/2002 5:48:02 PM PDT by Inkie
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To: nutmeg
How typical of the trailer park trash who furnished their two homes with stolen WH souveniers or gifts from others! Even his daughter's wedding is being paid for by the groom's parents, so this comes as no surprise. Frankly the thought he's shafting Kendall is sweet justice.
51 posted on 05/13/2002 7:04:57 PM PDT by StarFan
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To: poet
The Clintons, true grifters through and through, not that I feel real sorry for the rotten lawyers who defended the scumbags!
52 posted on 05/13/2002 7:19:41 PM PDT by LaGrone
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To: poet
Good!
53 posted on 05/13/2002 7:44:39 PM PDT by sport
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To: nutmeg,asmodeus
Low-life scum..........why can't I ever be face-to-face with her..that would be my dying wish.
54 posted on 05/14/2002 8:54:29 AM PDT by stanz
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