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.

[Alissa]

Sorry the "K" should be "Million"

[ladyinred]

No matter how often they lose in court however, the media never makes a big deal about it do they? It's just swept under the rug like all of their scandals are! Someday though, historians will notice all of this and recall them as the felons they both are. Investigators in the future will out them. Too bad we won't be around to see it!

[tubebender]

White Water...When I started lurking here it was the White Water threads that hooked me. The posters on those threads are legends in my time...

[YaYa123]

Clinton bragged that he loved paying taxes. "I must be the only person in America that every time - I pay the maximum tax rates - every time I sign that tax form, I smile."

He's such a lyingassphoney! Boggles the mind that people won't see Clinton's hypocrisy.

[CyberAnt]

Soooo ... they're mad because they didn't get 59% like George HW Bush ...?? Petty jealousy rampantly out of control.

[CyberAnt]

Actually ... Even if "the couple" don't pay their attorneys, the attorneys would never badmouth "the couple" - why ... ARKANSIDE!!

[StarFan]

Refresh my memory please. Was I dreaming or did Xlintoon (during his last days in office) say he didn't intend to have the taxpayers foot the bill for legal fees incurred? I thought he even went one step further and offered to help defray the costs for Currie and some other aids. Not surprised with the turnabout, just curious if I heard correctly.

[Howlin]

You're exactly right; he said that NONE of the WH employees who were involved would have to worry about their legal fees -- "if it was the last thing he ever did."

[cyncooper]

Soooo ... they're mad because they didn't get 59% like George HW Bush ...?? Petty jealousy rampantly out of control.

They're mad because the judges found that the charges were not politically motivated.

In fact, the court made a point of saying these charges WOULD have been investigated even without an independent counsel.

Why Kendall would issue a statement basically underscoring that his clients' case was found to be 98% without merit (Oh, the taxpayer pays the cost for the final report. Whoop-de-dang-do), is beyond me.

[CyberAnt]

"judges found that the charges were not politically motivated"

Boy, I must be tired ... I didn't see that comment! WOW! That's a powerful statement.

Hmmmm? When Estrada gets to the D.C. court, I wonder if the DOJ will file any charges ...???

[cyncooper]

There is a thread with the actual decision in it. I think I posted a link on this thread somewhere.

But go read the article that kicks off this thread and you'll see this (I think too many people discussed the money and not what the judges said about the merit of the charges against the clintons):

``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.

Note: The judges said the charges would have been investigated AND PROSECUTED even if an independent counsel had never been appointed.

This should have been huge news, but since it was the clintons, it wasn't.

[StarFan]

Whew, and thanks for assuring me that ALL sanity hasn't been lost. Difficult to hold on with the constant DNC/media drum beat that Bush lied. These same hateful liberals, now whispering impeachment, went out of their way to defend a man who deliberately lied to the nation and a grand jury UNDER OATH. Oops, I forgot it was just about sex!

[stanz]

Now this is good news for once.

[CyberAnt]

That's okay - as soon as Estrada is on the D.C. court - the fun will begin!

[timestax]

bttt

[timestax]

BTW, I believe the Clintons will pay their attorneys.

uhhhh....I DON'T TINK SO !!!

[Capt.YankeeMike]

Good Luck collecting,,,,they will NEVER pay.

the Capt.

[timestax]

ping

[Tall_Texan]

Judges to Clintons:"Better Put Some Ice On That".

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!