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.

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Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[QueenOfViolets]

He makes me so mad. When he was deputy AG, he was personally involved in the quest to silence California doctors who recommended marijuana for their cancer and HIV patients.

Luckily, that case finally lost in the Supreme Court after it was inherited by the Ashcroft DOJ

It figures that he was involved in the Rich pardon. So now we know he's forgiving towards tax cheats but unforgiving towards medical marijuana. Wonderful.

[southernsepia]

He doesn't have the power to pardon the president does, he simply signed off on Clinton's pardon as was his job.

[Coinyer101]

hope he doesn't get confirmed. don't like his views on marijuana.

[southernsepia]

Really?

There are a million other pressing issues that matter to people with real problems than whether or not you've been able to get cheap weed!

[Agent420]

Bite me.

[HappyIdiot2008]

Link please.

[southernsepia]

Here we go.

Is this the best controversy the media could dig up?

If I'm not mistaken the president has the power to pardon and makes those decisions. The Ag just signs off on the president's choice. Why are they trying to hang Rich around this guys neck it wasn't his call.

[Yola]

Give me a break! Who cares? Move on!

[gtalkspolitics]

Who Cares !!!!

[kellygrrrl]

Rush, BillO, Joe, Hume, Ann, Nancy, Tucker, Pat ... need more?

[southernsepia]

And we all hang on every kernel of truth and wisdom that drops from these idiots mouths right?

[Mapleave]

This is Obama's truly dubious appointment .
The Marc Rich pardon was unacceptable. Period.
Holder was an active participant in that pardon. Enough said.

[canucklivinginUSA]

Hmmm... he was just doing his job. Did he really had any choice?

[canucklivinginUSA]

Oh btw, how many times have I heard about the big mistakes that Obama has done already? You are just adding to that meme

[lizziekw]

Nobody cares about the stupid Rich pardon except Sean Hannity. Holder's fine, the confirmation hearings will be fine. A couple of Republican senators will try to make something out of it to toss a bone to Faux and Limbaugh.

[EllisWyatt]

Thoughtful, patriotic Americans do. This was egregious along with the FALN terrorist bombers pardon.

[PSM42]

Thoughtful, patriotic right wing spin ditto heads, perhaps.

[Troubledwawa]

"After Mr. Clinton left office, a federal grand jury investigation was eventually closed with a finding that no criminal wrongdoing had occurred."

Unless there was some type of evidence that the grand jury didn't hear, then that sentence pretty much sums it up.

[rollingdivision]

Pardons for unrepentant billionaire fugitive felons are hard to rationalize even if the facilitator was nominated by Obama. This just plain stunk. The ultimate special treatment for the rich and powerful. Not to mention Holder's positions on many important issues.

[heal57]

Forget it, already. Next!

[kellygrrrl]

oh, come on now ... you know that is NOT going to happen. We are going to spend the next 6 minutes, hours, days, weeks hearing about this.
they got nothing else. just step back and let them spin :)

[HappyIdiot2008]

Hope they get dizzy. :o)

[rollingdivision]

Rubber stamp progressive congress.

[EllisWyatt]

T.O.A.S.T. is Ramsey Clark still available?

[blurredtruth]

No surprise considering his relationship with Clinton. Change...what change? More of the same with who is serving AGAIN.

[canucklivinginUSA]

Yawn

[macbabe]

Hillary passed the vett test, Holder passed the vett test... let's move forward shall we!

[darthdarcy]

Not only the sleazy Mark Rich pardon, but this guy wanted to give anyone, everyone for simple possession of Marijuana, a mandatory 5 Year Prison Sentence..!

Can you imagine nearly half our nation would be in prison, even the cancer patients..that was as recent as 1998...what a tyrant...and our drug Czar is gonna be an alcoholic Republican..!

The War on drugs is run by alcoholics and created by alcoholics..

Holder is only one of Obama's many lousy selections...

[lafrance]

Things must be slow on Freeper tonight. Too bad. You should go back there to spew.

[canucklivinginUSA]

I think Luke Skywalker is looking for you

[HotheadPaisen]

Link please? Our understanding is that the sentances you mention were proposed for dealers, not users or possession.

[praxitas]

non story.