Hil defends reimbursement

New York Daily News ^ | 7/31/02 | Bill Hutchinson

[kattracks]

Sen. Hillary Clinton defended her and her husband's request for $3.5 million in taxpayer money to help pay legal bills from the Whitewater investigation, saying other Presidents got similar bailouts.

"It certainly is called for in the [independent counsel] statute," Clinton said.

The Daily News reported last week that the former First Couple is asking for $3.5 million in legal fees they ran up during the Whitewater probe.

As part of a deal with special prosecutor Robert Ray, Bill Clinton agreed not to ask for reimbursement for legal fees stemming from an investigation into his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

"Whatever was asked for was related to Whitewater only," Hillary Clinton said.

The Clintons never were charged in the investigation of the failed Whitewater land deal.

Hillary Clinton said she signed off on the request based in part on the "precedents that other Presidents have followed."

President Ronald Reagan and President George Bush were reimbursed for bills related to the Iran-Contra probe.

The reimbursement request comes after a year in which the Clintons earned a fortune.

Bill Clinton earned $9.2 million in 2001 for speaking engagements alone, according to his wife's Senate disclosure statement.

Along with book deals they each have, the Clintons have raked in nearly $30 million since the former President left office.

Bill Hutchinson

[Joe Boucher]

You have to be a dumb ass moron to support this conniving bitch. Hey hill, kill anyone lately?

[patj]

Kinda reminds me of those Enron executives.

[chiefqc]

"Hey crusty, if you and willie the pervert were able to ever tell the truth you, we the tax payers, would not be required to pay for your lies".

And you want to be President.

Great, just fuc*ing great.

[Brytani]

Haven't the lawyers who worked for them during the Whitewater investigation said they have not been paid?

Looks like Hill and Bill want another free ride off the US taxpayers.

Suggestion for you Hilldabeast - sell the pieces of furniture, china, silverware etc etc you STOLE from the taxpayers to pay YOUR legal debts - then carry your fat rear end out of my country.

[johnny7]

The Whitewater land deal happened before the two a-holes were in the Whitehouse.

We owe them NOTHING!

[The Wizard]

once willing to lie down for money, always willing to lie down for money

[RightOnline]

"Along with book deals they each have, the Clintons have raked in nearly $30 million since the former President left office.

For numerous reasons, this just turns my stomach.

Is it just me, or....................??

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

No, it's not just you. Crime does pay - well, doesn't it?

[gunnedah]

With this logic of doing what other Presidents have done it will be hell to pay in America after the Clintons.

[aardvark1]

The perfect "public servant"...looking for a handout.

[uncbob]

The real crime is not that they want re-imbursement but that they wern't tried and convicted

[Hitlerys uterus]

I can't help it but every time I see her name in print I am offended allmost to the point of throwing up in anger.

[tet68]

The real crime is not that they want re-imbursement but that they wern't tried and convicted

And hung!

[Let's Roll]

And besides - most of these legal fees were acquired defending him in zippergate which we were assured was only about his private life and none of our business.

[Isadora Duncan]

The real crime is not that they want re-imbursement but that they wern't tried and convicted

Let's not forget that he was impeached. Always will be impeached. Whether he was removed from office or not, he was impeached. That is the difference between these idiots and any other President that had to defend himself. HE WAS IMPEACHED. The sentence was just never carried out.

[Miss Marple]

You know what? Let's just have a big old public discussion about this money. "Legal fees for the rich!" is my war cry!

She thinks that she can get this money because ssshe thinks President Bush won't fight her about it. I am betting that this request comes back to bite her, big time.

[gaspar]

Former Presidents were reimbursed for actual expenses they personally incurred. The Clintons should receive nothing for they have payed nothing from their own pockets.

[Isadora Duncan]

They also indicated on the news last night that former presidents were reimbursed because a conviction didn't arise from the investigations. Impeachment was a conviction. He just wasn't removed from office. At least that's the way I see it.

And when, for the love of Heaven, have the Clinton's ever done anything out of their own pocket? They've lived on the public's money all their lives, just to end up making a fortune on book deals and speeches curried off our backs. They owe us!

[Wurlitzer]

"Former Presidents were reimbursed for actual expenses they personally incurred. "

Correct and in addition, the dispute with the former Presidents was related to a government policy not an individual’s case relating to private gain.

The former Presidents were not attempting to line their pockets with shady deals but were attempting to get around an unconstitutional Boland (sp?)amendment in a budget bill. They were attempting to eliminate Communists in our hemisphere something the devilcrats apposed.