Posted on 11/23/2001 8:20:59 PM PST by expose
Future of Clinton probe uncertain
By Tom Hays
Associated Press
Published November 23, 2001
NEW YORK -- U.S. Atty. Mary Jo White's caseload is like no other, with secret investigations of top political figures, the nation's largest police department and most-wanted terrorists.
But White announced last week that by year's end she would leave the job of top federal prosecutor in Manhattan. Her departure raises questions about how and when those cases will conclude, including a probe into President Bill Clinton's last-minute pardons.
Senior Democrats have seized on the announcement to suggest federal authorities close investigations targeting Clinton, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Robert Torricelli (D-N.J.).
But other observers insist the probes can go on without White--and could still result in indictments.
Known as a no-nonsense, apolitical supervisor, White "may want some resolution before her term ends," said Matthew Fishbein, White's former chief deputy. Federal officials had no comment on who would replace her.
"But this is an office where U.S. attorneys come and go and the work continues," Fishbein added.
Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft decided in March that White would stay on as a rare Democratic holdover in the Bush administration, citing the importance of her ongoing investigations.
White has been the nation's top prosecutor of terrorism cases in the past decade, winning convictions in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, a plot to blow up New York landmarks in 1995, and the attacks on U.S. Embassies in Africa. More prosecutions were expected.
She also convened a grand jury to hear new evidence in Osama bin Laden's alleged role in the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
But White's role was marginalized when Ashcroft put his assistant in charge of the investigation. The New York grand jury in the Sept. 11 terrorism case has publicly filed one indictment, charging a student from Jordan with lying to the FBI about his relationship with a suicide hijacker.
In her announcement, White said she expected "an orderly transition of pending matters."
Those include the criminal investigation of Bill Clinton's pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich, the ex-husband of a Democratic fundraiser, and his commutation of the sentences of four swindlers from a Hasidic community that overwhelmingly backed Hillary Clinton's Senate bid.
The Clintons, who say they are innocent, have not commented on White's departure. But Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) argued that it should end the scrutiny of his Senate colleagues, including Torricelli, who is suspected of taking illegal gifts and cash from a donor.
"It's time to bring it to a close, and perhaps this might serve as a catalyst to do just that," Daschle said.
White also began investigating allegations of racial profiling by the New York Police Department in 1999 following the fatal shooting of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed black man.
The separate grand jury inquiries of Bill Clinton and Torricelli were reportedly winding down before Sept. 11, when the attacks shifted attention away from the probes--until White announced her departure.
But Fishbein cautioned against thinking his former boss will go quietly. With secret proceedings, "You can't assume anything," he said.
What can I say?
Go crawl back under your rock.
By the way, wasn't his probe identified in court by several women?
Being a Free Thought Person and never PC to be a folower of anyone, does anyone else have a problem with this!
Thought provoking article, hope all had a Great Day yesterday and a better weekend ahead!
".......breathlessly, hopefully, standing on his tiptoes, fingers crossed, desperately."
What specific work did she complete and what specific cases did she resolve ?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.