Posted on 12/13/2004 7:39:05 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
The investigation into the United Nations Oil for Food scandal has turned up evidence that places Pardongate fugitive Marc Rich at the center of the probe, the New York Post revealed in Monday editions.
"We think [Rich] was a major player in this - a central figure," a senior law-enforcement official told The Post.
The bombshell development raises new questions about whether some of Saddam Hussein's Oil for Food cash may have found its way into the hands of Rich's ex-wife Denise, who contributed heavily to Bill Clinton's presidential library during the years now under investigation.
A 2001 report by the House Government Reform Committee on the Rich clemency deal established that fugitive billionaire had been dealing with Saddam since the early 1990s - a fact that was well known to the CIA and other U.S. law enforcement agencies.
The report detailed loans by Rich directly to Saddam in violation of U.N. sanctions. The Iraqi dictator would later repay the well-connected crook with preferential treatment on oil prices.
Investigators told the Post they have received information that Rich and Ben Pollner, a New York-based oil trader who heads Taurus Oil, put together deals between Saddam and his international supporters as part of the Oil for Food scam.
When it became known in January 2001 that the ex-president had pardoned Rich, probers immediately zeroed in on his ex-wife Denise, who had donated more than $1 million to Democratic campaigns - including Hillary Clinton's first Senate race - during the same period that Mr. Rich was doing business with Saddam.
Rich's ex also ponied up $450,000 for Clinton's library and donated the max to the Clintons' defense fund.
During public testimony before Congress in February 2001, Denise Rich invoked her fifth amendment right against self incrimination, raising prosecutors' suspicions that she was covering up the money trail between her husband and the White House.
A criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney for New York's Southern District into the Rich clemency deal is officially still underway, though many believe the probe has fizzled under pressure from the Bush White House - which is said to fear that any indictments would be regarded as a political vendetta.
But new probes into Rich's role in Oil for Food could put the spotlight back on Clinton, who said during a recent interview about the opening of his library that the only thing he regretted about pardoning the fugitive billionaire was that it was misconstrued by the media.
The Clintons are as corrupt a couple of people as there are on the planet, and not one thing will ever happen.
Well now we know what made Mark rich.
Sheds light on why 'America' AKA the Klintoon administration, did not make a stink about the obviously corrupt program long ago. The corrupt one allowed the corruption to start, continue and thrive.
This is NOT surprising and will NOT be covered by the NY Times. Instead, we will be treated to Maureen Dowd's third grade columns degrading Donald Rumsfeld, American values (see "mainstream") and religion.
But the impeached former president is the most loved (by liberals) democrat since the Kennedy brothers.
The grifter that keeps on giving...
Little by little, inch by inch, like peeling the layers of an onion, maybe, just maybe we will uncover the fetid pile of human excrement that is the Clintons!
Laughing Out Loud!
I do wonder if the MSM is getting mad at Billy for ranting on them for his troubles yet?
Clinton's heart problems caused by massive corruption of
his heart and mind and fear of being caught.
My wish might be coming true. I had hoped that they could and would tie this scandal to the HillBillies. Though, due to their massive fraud experience, they most likely left no paper trail. This is too good to be true. We could finally see the end of the Clinton dynasty, HA HA.
And that would be a surprise?
To who(m)?
If there's one rat figure... not Carter, not Bader-Ginsberg, not Reno, not Gorelick, not Berg... it is CLINTON(s) that we should focus the fire on. They both should be wearing orange jumpsuits, and that should be our goal. Whatever happened to the old prison stripes?
Ping
You are SO right! They have had their hands in every money-making scam to come down the pike!! Besides, I think the orange jumpsuit would look better on Hitlery than that skanky, black, crusty suit she always wears! Although, maybe horizontal stripes would look better on her -- accentuate her girth!!
What I want to know is how much Denise Rich donated to Hillary Clinton's senate campaign.
They were counting on John Kerry to win and coverup.
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