Federal judge refuses to overturn Whitewater conviction of former Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker

Associated Press | June 16, 2003

[HAL9000]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- A federal judge on Monday upheld the Whitewater fraud conviction of former Gov. Jim Guy Tucker, rejecting his claim that the government withheld information about benefits afforded a key witness.

In a telephone interview Monday, Tucker said he wouldn't make a decision to appeal the ruling until after he had reviewed it and sought counsel from his attorney.

The decision by U.S. District Judge George Howard Jr. was the latest ruling in the long-running Whitewater saga, the Arkansas land deal that also involved Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Tucker's appeal attacked the credibility of David Hale, who was the primary witness in the government's case against Tucker and James and Susan McDougal. The McDougals were business partners with the Clintons in the Whitewater partnership.

Tucker claimed Whitewater prosecutor Kenneth Starr knew that Hale was receiving assistance from people who opposed him and President Clinton, and failed to disclose the aid. At the time, the FBI and the Office of Independent Counsel were supervising Hale.

Tucker was convicted on bank fraud and conspiracy charges and sentenced to 18 months home detention.

In a 47-page decision, Howard wrote that Tucker failed to show a reason to set aside the sentence but even if he had provided evidence to back his claim, "it would not in the least have changed the outcome of the trial.''

[PhiKapMom]

In a 47-page decision, Howard wrote that Tucker failed to show a reason to set aside the sentence but even if he had provided evidence to back his claim, "it would not in the least have changed the outcome of the trial.''

Gotta love it!

[Clinging Bitterly]

18 months home detention. I'm deeply saddened for the poor guy.

Article doesn't say who appointed the judge. Must not have been a Republican President.

[HAL9000]

Carter.

[RJayneJ]

Quote of the Day by U S Army EOD

[Clinging Bitterly]

Yeah. I'm sure they would have mentioned if it were Reagan or Bush41.

So his basis for appeal is that he was prosecuted by someone who was out to get him, and further, that same prosecutor was looking at Bill Clinton.

The Judge probably told him that prosecutors often oppose the defendant, since it's sorta like their job, and as regards Clinton, that he was also a criminal suspect and prosecutors make public statements about cases under investigation every day, and there was nothing out of the ordinary here. I'm sure that's all in the 47 pages somewhere.

[HHFi]

Wait a minute, this isn't possible. Someone was CONVICTED in a case involving Whitewater? But just last week, Hillary Clinton told Barbara Walters that the entire Whitewater probe never turned up any wrongdoing. She's the most brilliant woman on Earth, so she couldn't possibly have been incorrect. And Hillary would never lie, would she? 'Tis a puzzlement...

[BenLurkin]

Barbara Walters and Larry King are probably trying even as we speak to get Mrs. Clitoon back on their programs in order to grill her with hard hitting questions about this topic. >/sarcasm<