Federal prosecutors in the United States have opened a criminal investigation into the pardoning of a fugitive multi-millionaire businessman by former President Bill Clinton. Mr Clinton pardoned Marc Rich shortly before he left office last month. The inquiry will focus on whether or not there was an illegal transfer of money to obtain the pardon.
Two Congressional committees are already inquiring into the pardoning of Mr Rich. He fled to Switzerland 17 years ago to avoid prosecution for tax evasion and illegal oil trading. He is accused of failing to pay taxes of over $48m and of violating a US trade embargo against Iran when Tehran was holding Americans hostage in 1980. Mr Rich’s former wife, Denise Rich, made financial donations of over $1m to the Democrats between 1983 - 2000.
Bill Clinton has denied any wrongdoing. The former US President said that he had based his decision to pardon Marc Rich on what he thought was the right thing to do. "Any suggestion that improper factors including fundraising for the DNC or my library had anything to do with the decision are absolutely false," he said.
The Government Reform Committee of the House of Representatives has launched a separate inquiry into the pardon. James Wilson, chief legal counsel, said that the main issue is to confirm that the money Denise Rich donated was her own, as it is illegal to donate money that is not your own for political purposes.
The top pardons official at the United States Justice Department claims that "none of the regular procedures were followed". Roger Adams told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he first hear of the plan to pardon Rich on 20 January, when Clinton had just 12 hours left in office. He added that, although he told the Deputy Attorney General of his concerns, no action was taken.
