Eric Holder "More Deeply Involved" In Rich Pardon Than Supporters Acknowledge

New York Times:

WASHINGTON - In the much praised career of Eric H. Holder Jr., President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be attorney general, there is one notable blemish: Mr. Holder's complicated role in the 2001 pardon of Marc Rich, a billionaire financier who had fled the country rather than face federal tax evasion charges.

Mr. Holder's supporters portray him as having been a relatively uninvolved bystander caught in a Clinton-era controversy, the remarkable granting of a last-minute pardon by President Bill Clinton to a fugitive from justice. But interviews and an examination of Congressional records show that Mr. Holder, who at the time of the pardon was the deputy attorney general, was more deeply involved in the Rich pardon than his supporters acknowledge.

Get more updates on Eric Holder

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[darthdarcy]

Eric Holder also advocated giving anyone caught on a simple marijuana possession charge a mandatory 5 year prison term...in 1998..!

This man is a dangerous opportunis­t...

[HappyIdiot2008]

Link please.

[rudyinbama]

Darth is right about the five years for a low level drug dealer - and scot-free if you're Marc Rich.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_/ai_19340518

[socratiskiss]

Please provide us with proof. Thank You in advance.

[MyNameIsJames]

I am very concerned about Holder's views on the "War on Drugs" This is a very sensitive issue for certain communities in the US - primarily African Americans and Hispanics who overwhelming support made it possible for Barack Obama to become the President of the United States.

[LeftLeanWing]

Eric Holder introduced legislation that would make distribution and possession with the intent to distribute marijuana a five-year felony.

His proposals had two thrusts: The first involves setting minimum sentences of 18 months for first-time convicted drug dealers, 36 months for the second time and 72 months for every conviction thereafter.

Is this what you call a simple marijuana possession charge ?

These proposals were made in 1996 in DC , where I live. At the time 62% of juveniles arrested for violent crimes had herb in their systems. I believe he saw a strong correlation and wanted to fix it. This was not for SIMPLE POSSESSION, but was intend to get Drug Dealers off the streets.

[justwaitandsee]

I DO NOT CARE. Who would you have Gonzales?

[Fight4Freedom2008]

I'll lean towards yes cuz the Israel clan likes him...

[HappyIdiot2008]

Why do you hate the Israeli people? What is up with that?

[AdamAnt12]

Not only is he involved with the Rich pardon, he was involved with the Elian Gonzalez dibacle...­.

[canucklivinginUSA]

I would believe you if you knew how to spell debacle

[Sparty1]

hahahahahahahaha!

[Sparty1]

Elian Gonzalez' father wanted his son back with him in Cuba. What does that have to do with anything? They've shown that young man recently and he looks just fine with his father. He didn't even know his Miami family. Just because they knew that life over here may be better than in Cuba doesn't mean that they were correct in keeping Elian.

Janet Reno was in control of the justice department, not Eric Holder.

[Oldbuck]

Eric Holder was doing the work on the Rich case at the request of the then President Clinton which had ever right to pardon whom ever he saw fit to pardon just as Bush has now. It was not Holders to say yes are no on the pardon how can he be held accountable.

[Fight4Freedom2008]

Did you read the article? Individual honesty that's all I ask...

[HappyIdiot2008]

They are creating a story from nothing.

[TruthSeeker09]

What was the article supposed to tell us? That Rich's people talked to Holder? Wow! What a surprise. Rich's people lobbied the administration officials for a pardon. Doesn't that always happen to presidents and governors? Isn't the Bush administration dealing with the same thing right now?

Regardless of what Holder recommended, Clinton was still the ONLY one who could issue the pardon. If others in the administration disapproved of the idea, which is what the article suggests, why did Clinton go ahead with it? That's a better question than "How did the DEPUTY AG twist the arm of the (presumably) most powerful man in the world to follow his will?" That notion is absolutely absurd.

[LastLiberalRepublican]

"Oldbuck" does need some grammar and spelling lessons, which could make his opinions more effective. I bad.

[theone718]

This will come up during conformation, so until then we will have to wait and see.

[FearlessFreep]

I'm going to "wait and see" before I decide Obama is praiseworthy.

[ManyColored]

I don't know enough about the Rich pardon to comment. However, I do have a serious objection to his appointment. He is on the record as being against independent counsel for possible abuses by the Justice Department. That is completely the wrong point of view. To say that any organization, particularly one comprised of lawyers, can police themselves is wrong-headed and ludicrous. There is no way that can be done, as has been shown to be historically true innumerable times with every type of organization and under any scenario. I think this is a bad sign, and anybody who thinks otherwise is a babe in the woods.

[happycat]

Good point. I too have my reservations about Holder.

[HappyIdiot2008]

You read a post without researching and agreed with it? That's not what it's all about. Think.

[slowhand0728]

If you knew the RICH story you would swear he was a republican and that Bush's father or Bush would have been the one to pardon the Oil Billionaire.

[lizziekw]

Against independent counsel? Do you mean against special prosecutors? After the hell that the Republicans put the nation through during President Clinton's administrations with that freak Ken Starr, I supported doing away with special prosecutors.

During the Nixon years, special prosecutors were useful. If we could trust that they would not be sent on perverse witch hunts, I might favor them again.

[ManyColored]

I am talking about independent oversight, however it is administered. If one administration chose to abuse the office of a special prosecutor, then there has to be a way to have an independent third party chosen by mutual agreement of both sides who can effectively and fairly conduct an investigation. The point is Holder is on record against such oversight. And that is a serious philosophical flaw. You cannot police yourself.

[harriscrl3]

If he impeaches Bush I'd have his baby.

Carol

[macbabe]

and kiss the ground he walks on...

yup yup.. I am with you!!

[AdamAnt12]

Ask Elian Gonzalez how he feels about Eric Holder...

[ManyColored]

Ain't nobody gonna get impeached. Nobody. And ain't nobody gonna get charged. At least not by the federal government. Everybody is going to have to swallow that and move on.

[FearlessFreep]

"Ain't nobody gonna get impeached. Nobody. And ain't nobody gonna get charged. At least not by the federal government. Everybody is going to have to swallow that and move on."

What, you expected Obama to put justice before politics?

[loper2008]

It is funny to hear Republicans try to act as if they have a moral code they hold up in their party. Sen. Stevens was almost reelected and they are the party of Karl Rove and Tom DeLay.

I think the Rich pardon is troubling. I think the ultimate decision was made by Bill Clinton and he is the only one who can be held accountable.

[pangurban]

Oh, yeah. NYt...Judi­th Miller, NYT as enabler in the War in Iraq...yea­h, that is what we expect from them. Hey, NYT still have Kristol on board. NYT will be gone in a year.

[slowhand0728]

You really think so? I would not mind at all. Then the Washington Post right behind them!

[lizziekw]

Time to wake up now, boys. The New York Times and the Washington Post aren't going anywhere.

[Titus Pullo]

This is the baggage the Clintons bring to the table. Get used to it or listen to bleating bots crying "who cares" at every floater.

[BygonesGone]

So much for Obama being careful and "fully vetting" someone. He has already let me down. It was because of him that I made sure I voted, and it's because of him that I will never vote again.

He lied. Obama said that all that Washington insider stuff is out, but he strikes a deal with Hillary to hold such an important position. Since when is the person that tried to destroy you, your friend? Since when is the person that wished assassination on someone, a friend? It's a pack of lies. Payback is what it is.

Then he said whomever leaks, is out. That's all they've been doing, is leaking information and he sits back and does nothing.

He said people applying for jobs will be fully vetted. It is an insult to my intelligence to think that I will believe that someone that is currently on trial and has been involved in scandals almost all their political careers, passed being vetted. He never vetted her, but we're too dumb to know that, I suppose.

I am disappointed in Obama and I will never vote in another election. They all lie just to get into office. We know how devious and scandalous the Clintons are, but he goes and keeps them around when they have the worst political career in politician history. He has proven to be one huge disappointment. People will remember this 4 years from now.

[lizziekw]

LOL

[HotheadPaisen]

How old are you? Seriously.

[lafrance]

Holder, outside of the Rich thing, has a very good reputation.
You have to wonder if he was pressured at the time but, I guess we wait and see if it is true or not. It would be ashame if he did and was disqualified.

[rockyb26]

who cares?

[HappyIdiot2008]

Exactly 67 posts at this point. Not many.

[kellygrrrl]

I much prefer we spend our holiday season with relevant matters ... like vetting the First Mutt

[milano]

Who will Obama name for AG if Holder is not confirmed?

[macbabe]

He'll be confirmed, you don't think O knew all this going in? Clintons have more baggage that Holder... can't wait until Jan 20th and it's all a done deal, until then the media has nothing else to do but spin and spin... O is amused by all the media spin, so should we and ignore it.

[canucklivinginUSA]

Seriously. If he knew he would have a lot of problem, he would have nominated the man