Friday, March 2, 2001
Tennessee businessman defends controversial presidential pardons
By AMY GREEN
Associated Press Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Tennessee businessman says he never offered compensation for the controversial presidential pardons he and his wife were granted and he feels the scrutiny the pardons have drawn is unjustified.
Edgar Allen Gregory and his wife, Vonna Jo, of Brentwood, were convicted in 1982 on various bank fraud charges. They were accused of using their holdings in a rural Alabama bank to obtain loans for themselves and friends.
Their pardons in March 2000 initially gained little attention but have now come under scrutiny with reports that Tony Rodham, brother to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., pushed for the pardons on their behalf.
Sen. Clinton's other brother, Hugh Rodham, stirred controversy last month when it was revealed he had received $400,000 for helping gain a prison commutation for Carlos Vignali, a Los Angeles man convicted on drug charges, and a pardon for Almon Glenn Braswell, convicted of fraud. Hugh Rodham has agreed to return the money.
Gregory said that issue never came up in his conversations with Tony Rodham, whom he met at a Democratic fund-raiser in Washington, D.C.
"He has never been paid anything, nor has he asked for anything in connection with any pardon," he said.
A New York Times report Thursday quoted Tony Rodham saying he did not receive money for the Gregory pardons. Rodham's whereabouts Thursday were not known, and he could not be reached for comment.
Gregory said he asked for Rodham's help about a year and a half after his pardon applications were filed. He said Rodham told him the Justice Department usually handles that, but he promised to "see what I can do."
Financial disclosure forms show that the Gregorys have been generous contributors to a variety of political interests. The contributions include: $4,500 to Sen. Clinton and her campaign in 1999 and 2000; $1,000 to former President Clinton in 1995; and $5,000 to the Democratic National Committee in 1992.
Other contributions went to: the Republican National Committee ($10,000); the Tennessee Republican Party ($3,000); Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, ($4,000); Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tennessee, ($1,000); the Tennessee Democratic Party ($8,000); and former Vice President Al Gore ($2,000).
Gregory said their political contributions had nothing to do with their pardon application.
"My wife and I have been active political contributors for 35 years," he said. "I certainly don't believe you could give a contribution, and that could influence someone like a sitting president to grant a pardon."
The Gregorys own United Shows of America, a Smyrna-based carnival business with diverse interests including real estate and music royalties, with artists including Jim Reeves, Faron Young and others. The company in 1998 set up rides and games on the White House lawn, and Rodham has been a consultant to the company.
Gregory and his wife were convicted of conspiracy to misapply bank funds, making false statements to banks, misapplication of bank funds and wire fraud. Gregory was given a two-year prison sentence, and his wife was sentenced to three years of probation.
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals later vacated the sentences, and the couple pleaded guilty to nine counts in their original indictment. The Gregorys were given probation.
The Justice Department recommended against the pardons, on grounds the couple's crimes were too serious. Former President Clinton granted the pardons anyway.
Julia Payne, a spokeswoman for Clinton, said Rodham advocated for the Gregorys' pardons and two others that were not granted. "Many people approach the president about pardons," she said. "In his decision to grant pardons or not, the president decides on the merits of the case."
------
On the Net:
United Shows of America: http://www.unitedshowsofamerica.com
Opensecrets.org: http://www.opensecrets.org
Carny folk. I knew it.
Reference bump! Thanks.
This carny clown has had his nuts roasted one than once ...
(no link)
Hazelnut Flap Is Building
White House Disavows Clinton In-Law’s Foreign Dealings
Washington Post
January 1, 2000
Author: John F. Harris; Washington Post Staff Writer
The Clinton administration sent word this week to the government of the former Soviet republic of Georgia disavowing a controversial business venture being pursued by Tony Rodham, the brother of first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, and urging officials there not to let the issue drive a wedge in relations with the United States.
A National Security Council official, acting on behalf of national security adviser Samuel R. “Sandy” Berger, called the Georgian Embassy here on Tuesday to emphasize that President Clinton was opposed to his brother-in-law’s involvement in a plan to export hazelnuts from Georgia but that his requests that Rodham drop the business were not followed, according to NSC spokesman James Fallin.
Rodham’s hazelnut venture—which he once said he was dropping but has since revived—has caused political problems for Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, a staunch U.S. ally. This is because the first lady’s brother has been closely linked with one of Shevardnadze’s chief rivals.
(snip)