Clintons Lose Whitewater Appeal

NYT ^

[Sub-Driver]

Clintons Lose Whitewater Appeal By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 10:49 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The federal government does not have to pay for the bulk of former president Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton's legal fees arising out of the Whitewater independent counsel investigation, an appeals court ruled Tuesday.

The Clintons had sought reimbursement for more than $3.5 million in lawyer costs stemming from the long-running probe of the failed Arkansas land deal.

But a federal appeals panel issued a 14-page decision ruling the Clintons would have been investigated with or without the appointment of an independent counsel, and therefore should pay the overwhelming majority of those legal costs.

The federal government will pay $85,312.01 to the Clintons in legal fees for their lawyers' review and response to the counsel's final report, the judges ruled.

``We harbor no doubt that in the absence of the independent counsel statute the allegations surrounding the Clintons, Madison Guaranty, and Whitewater would have been similarly investigated and prosecuted by the Department of Justice,'' the three-judge panel wrote.

A spokeswoman for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton did not immediately return a call for comment. Sen. Clinton's most recent financial disclosure forms show the couple owed between $1.7 million and $6.5 million in outstanding legal bills.

[Hatteras]

"...legal bills paid in an effort to keep one's job would be tax deductable...but, of course, only to the extent of your income...no value when you're making $200k per year, but when you're making $10 million per year, well, he can write it all off....."

But he was paying legal bills in an effort to keep his $200K job, not his $10 million/yr job. Doesn't it matter when the fees were incurred?

[weegee]

I don't know how they do their bookkeeping. Some of that differential may be because of expectations that they can get the government to cover $3million of it.

[Mr. Bird]

The Clintons had sought reimbursement for more than $3.5 million in lawyer costs stemming from the long-running probe of the failed Arkansas land deal.

$3.5 million is the equivalent of $1200/day, 365 days a year, for 8 freakin' years. If Whitewater was "nothing", how on earth could lawyers rack up such fees? It was all a scam from the beginning: the lawyers winked at the Clintons and planned on getting the U.S. taxpayer to pay all along. I'd wager a whole dollar that the firms never put the heat on them for payment. Services were rendered in office through tobacco suits and other policies....

[Peach]

Not that the lawyers will ever see a dime, but this is a good decision.

[irish guard]

Even if the government covers $3 million of it, they are still $1.8 million short on their estimates......the simple arrogance of putting down on paper something that outrageous and arrogant is unfathomable to me. Can you imagine buying a house with an estimate that wide? A car? Anything?....these people are never challenged about their arrogance!

[Coop]

Whenever someone mentions "Ken Starr was out of control!" (which doesn't happen often), I always ask why he won something like 15 out of 17 court findings.

I never seem to get a decent answer other than "Vast right-wing conspiracy!" or "Can't we just move on?!?"

[MJemison]

Will Kendall and Bennett turn on the Clintons? Go after them for their overdue fees? I hope so! (No loyalty amongst thieves - What fun!)

[cyncooper]

Whenever someone mentions "Ken Starr was out of control!" (which doesn't happen often), I always ask why he won something like 15 out of 17 court findings.

Exactly.

Notice how the Bush administratoin decisions are carefully researched and abide by the law witnessed by constant court rulings that uphold them.

I say this court ruling by the three judge panel is remarkable, not due to the amount of money the shiftless duo did not pay themselves, but for the finding that the charges merited investigation all on their own whether or not an independent prosecutor had been appointed.

[mewzilla]

Sen. Clinton's most recent financial disclosure forms show the couple owed between $1.7 million and $6.5 million in outstanding legal bills.

Say what? A five million dollar range? That sounds screwy.

[timestax]

"That couple" doesn't pay for ANYTHING.

Ya got dat right!! eh

[Coop]

but for the finding that the charges merited investigation all on their own whether or not an independent prosecutor had been appointed.

That was a powerful statement against a former POTUS - even an IMPOTUS/DIRTPOTUS.

[ChefKeith]

The federal government Taxpayers will pay $85,312.01 to the Clintons in legal fees for their lawyers' review and response to the counsel's final report, the judges ruled.

[ValerieUSA]

Sen. Clinton's most recent financial disclosure forms show the couple owed between $1.7 million and $6.5 million in outstanding legal bills.

Give or take $5 million? What kind of financial disclosure figure is that?

[hattend]

Sen. Clinton's most recent financial disclosure forms show the couple owed between $1.7 million and $6.5 million in outstanding legal bills.

Don't you love the Clintons? This couple has DISCLOSED their legal liabilities, yet there is a 5 million dollar spread. They don't know how much they owe?

They wouldn't be scamming their lawyers, would they?

[fightinJAG]

My thought as well.

[cajungirl]

I have a vague memory of the former prez saying he would not get the taxpayers to pay his legal bills,,does anyone else remember that? I swear he said that along with other lies.

[LeftiesBinWhinin]

Someone had to post this...

...and Tom Daschle is saddened, deeply saddened by this decision...

[cyncooper]

The Clintons had sought reimbursement for more than $3.5 million in lawyer costs stemming from the long-running probe of the failed Arkansas land deal.

But a federal appeals panel issued a 14-page decision ruling the Clintons would have been investigated with or without the appointment of an independent counsel, and therefore should pay the overwhelming majority of those legal costs.

PING

[Txslady]

I'm glad somebody else noticed that!

[The Wizard]

good call