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WASHINGTON -- A lawyer for Rick Hendrick, the Charlotte car dealer who once pleaded guilty in a bribery scheme and won a pardon from President Clinton in December, denied Tuesday there was a connection between the pardon and a donation to Clinton's presidential library.The statement from Charlotte lawyer John Arrowood said Hendrick "followed to the letter" the U.S. Justice Department's procedures for pardon applications.
What's more, according to the statement, neither Hendrick nor Arrowood was aware of the $500,000 donation pledged to Clinton's library by the Bank of America Foundation "until it was reported in the media this week."
The denial came one day after congressional sources told The Observer that a House committee might include the Hendrick pardon in a growing investigation of Clinton pardons that some suspect may be tied to financial contributions.
Hendrick's pardon application included a reference letter from Bank of America Chairman and CEO Hugh McColl Jr., a longtime friend of Hendrick and political ally of Clinton. Hendrick served on the bank's board for nearly a decade until 1997.
The pardon was awarded Dec. 22, less than three weeks after McColl announced the bank's donation to the library.
A spokesman for the House Government Reform Committee, headed by Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., said Tuesday there has been no decision yet about whether to investigate the Hendrick case as part of the committee's inquiry into the pardon of billionaire fugitive Marc Rich.
Neither Hendrick, McColl nor Arrowood would agree to be interviewed Tuesday.
The bank foundation's president, Lynn Drury, defended the contribution to the Clinton library, saying the money will go solely for educational programs. Half will be given this year and half next year. Drury also defended McColl's decision to back Hendrick's pardon. "They're good friends," she said. "He's been an important customer. I don't see where the question is."
But one watchdog of government ethics said Tuesday he has many questions. "However Hugh McColl and Bank of America want to explain it, it looks terrible, even if there are other considerations and they would have given the money anyway to the library," said Charles Lewis, executive director of the Washington-based Center for Public Integrity. "It's the timing and the personal commendation on behalf of this convicted felon that obviously makes the eyebrows go up."
Hendrick was indicted in 1995 as part of a bribery scheme in which car dealers shipped money, jewels and cars to Honda Motor Co. executives in exchange for preferential treatment. He pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and received a lenient sentence because he had leukemia.
"Mr. Hendrick did (ask) for prompt consideration of his application due to his leukemia and the uncertainty surrounding his prospects for long-term survival," Arrowood's statement said.
What's more, according to the statement, neither Hendrick nor Arrowood was aware of the $500,000 donation pledged to Clinton's library by the Bank of America Foundation "until it was reported in the media this week."
Gosh, what a relief. Now let's see if Bank of America chairman Hugh McColl has an alibi. Will he also deny knowing about the $500,000 contribution pledge to the Clinton Library less than three weeks before the pardon? Will he deny writing a letter to Clinton requesting the pardon?
We hear that four days after Clinton left office, Hugh unexpectly announced that he is retiring in April, a year ahead of schedule.
The Clinton Library Pardons - Rick Hendrick, Archie Schaffer and Marc Rich
Regardless of whether there was a connection between donation and pardon, what was Bank of America doing contributing that kind of money to the slimebag's library? (And of course, we should take this attorney's word for it that there is no connection.) Can't wait to hear response from stockholders and customers.
"Hello, White House Operator. How may I help you?"
"I'd like to get an application form for a presidential pardon."
"Certainly, I'd be happy to send that right out to you."
"Thank you very much; it's already January 15th, so I'm in kind of a hurry."
"No problem, I can Fed-Ex it. Do you have a Clinton Library Donor Pledge Card or should I include it with your application form."
"Pledge Card? Beg y'pardon…?"
"Exactly. Now whom shall I address this to?…"
This is so terrible and smells so obviously criminal by Clinton.
It is time for juries to start deciding whether there is enough evidence to support criminal bribery convictions against Bill. Or as the liberal news media loves to obfuscate by saying, The Quid Pro Quo offenses.
So far, there seem to be a half dozen to a dozen potential bribery or influence-peddling, criminal investigations including those for Baby Hughey, Burp Roger, and Stand-by-your-man Hillary. And buxom-gal, boom-boom, Denise Rich and doll face-babe, a 'kiss for some power', Beth Dozoreth...
Will orange outfitted Sue McDougal finally fess all? Will the unpardonable, giant guppie lipped, Webb Hubbell, finally spill the beans? Will Hillary accuse the Vast Right Wing again? Will Newt Gingrich publicly resign once more?
Court TV, Here We Come! We want Front Row Seats to the Clinton and FOB Pardon Trials! Bring on your juiciest, lustiest, money grubbing rumors, innuendoes, and facts. Make it better than National Enquirer. Yahooweee!
I have cut up and returned my Bank of America cards. Will not do business with them again. I have asked my other bank if THEY have ever contributed to Clinton library.
The bank foundation's president, Lynn Drury, defended the contribution to the Clinton library, saying the money will go solely for educational programs. Half will be given this year and half next year.
So will Bank of America's donation pledge appear in the list that David Kendall is providing to Dan Burton? If not, then Burton should begin contempt of Congress proceedings against Kendall.
It isn't the first time they have done "business"...
"On September 29, 1994, you [Clinton] signed the Fair Trade in Financial Services Act into law, a measure which no one pushed harder for than NationsBank and its president Hugh McColl, who told shareholders that the law would save NationsBank $50 million a year. Two weeks later, the cash-strapped Democratic National Committee received a $3.5 million line of credit from NationsBank at a favorable interest rate."
In May, with the help of a $668,000 loan from NationsBanc Mortgage Corp. (a NationsBank subsidiary), George Stephanopoulos bought an $835,000 D.C. building containing a posh apartment above an eyewear retail store...As it happens, there's an interstate branching bill on Capitol Hill right now, which just cleared the House and, pending Senate approval, will soon pass under Clinton's pen." (Stephanopoulos says of the bill, "I never worked on it--didn't know anything about it.") McColl stands to save millions through the bill's enactment. The American Banker reports, "If NationsBank could cut its annual costs as much as $5,000 a branch, that would be $10 million."
Another character in the Nations/Clinton cluster--and another prominent champion of interstate branching--is Comptroller of the Currency Eugene Ludwig, one of the most powerful and controversial regulatory officers in the federal government. Ludwig traces his Clintonian genealogy back even further than McColl. Appointed comptroller by Clinton in 1993, Ludwig was one of only two people (labor secretary Robert Reich was the other) who had both been a Rhodes Scholar and attended Yale Law with Clinton. When Clinton was embroiled in the Gennifer Flowers scandal and suffered a setback in New Hampshire, Ludwig offered his services, and for the rest of the year split time between the campaign and his law practice. With White House access unprecedented for a banking regulator, Ludwig was also--until his appointment in 1993--a partner with the Washington law firm of Covington & Burling, where for a long time he represented Hugh McColl and NationsBank.
just fired off an email to BofA telling him how quickly I and my parents will be moving out some substantial funds! These G*DD*M Clintons and their scum just keep on giving, don't they?
B S Nobody got a pardon that did not give money, even Witch Hillary's Bro. got and gave money to the Clintons.
What I think is weird is that McColl donates to the republicans as per open secrets. But the law firm that Hendrick's atty works for (McElroy & Diehl), William Diehl and Arrowood both donate to democrats. Although John Arrowood is on the states BANKING authority appointed by Gov. Hunt.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
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