Posted on 03/26/2007 2:39:41 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) today asked Former President Bill Clinton if he would be available to testify at the Democrats' Thursday hearing on presidential pardon authority.
"Former President Clinton is no stranger to controversial pardons, most notably the pardon of Marc Rich on his last day in office," stated Ranking Member Smith. "I can think of no better person to address this issue."
At Thursday's hearing of the Judiciary's Crime Subcommittee entitled, "The Appropriate Use of the Presidential Pardoning Power," Democrats are expected to explore what is and is not the appropriate use of pardons, despite a president's plenary power to issue pardons.
President Clinton granted pardons or commuted the sentences of nearly 500 people, including fugitive financier Marc Rich, whose wife donated $450 thousand to the Clinton Library. Other pardons included a person accused of cocaine trafficking and a former Democratic committee chairman indicted on political corruption charges.
The Constitution gives the President the absolute authority to grant clemency, commutation, and remission of fines for offenses. Despite this absolute authority, presidents are not immune from criticism and even congressional attempts to restrict pardon authority.
"Mr. Clinton's exercise of his pardon authority would be of real interest to Members of the Subcommittee," concluded Smith. "I hope he will lend his expertise.
Not a chance. He'll be in the spotlight and attention will be on him. Doesn't matter what kind of attention it is because to clinton it's all about ME all the time.
The Congress can pass as many "rules" as they want to amuse themselves but they hold no legal authority to enforce them.
You think Hillary would want to have his pardons dredged up again?
He'd show if he was being paid for it. Afterall, the Clintons and Rodhams got their share of money for pardons in the past. They never do anything unless it benefits them personally.
Actually, they love the thought of a Scooter Libby pardon. That is why they keep trying to play up the idea that Bush is considering it. Consider it a reverse slander attempt. Same reason the Democrats keep trying to implement the draft.
The Republicans should demand he be placed under oath.
""While he's there, ask him about requiring 93 US Attorneys to resign and be gone in 10 days, especially that pesky US Attorney in Little Rock.""
My thoughts exactly. I am guessing there is no chance he will appear before congress to discuss these two topics because there is little chance he would leave in a good light.
why bother...like the rest of the Lefties, if his lips are moving; he's lying! LMAO
Yeah cool, but easy to over use... LOL
Probably not
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