Posted on 10/19/2001 9:31:04 AM PDT by Pokey78
If not for an African-American former Catholic nun from Arkansas, ex-president Clinton wouldn't been punished at all for repeatedly perjuring himself before Independent Counsel Ken Starr's Monica Lewinsky grand jury, late heroine-author Barbara Olson reveals in her new book, "The Final Days."
Despite Clinton's blatant lawbreaking, Starr's successor Robert Ray was hoping to avoid any prosecution of the ex-president, says Olson.
"Ray wanted to settle, but the Arkansas bar wanted to disbar Clinton for false testimony."
As Ray and Clinton's lawyer David Kendall finalized their negotiations in the White House Map Room on Christmas Day, Olson says Clinton "sat with a frozen grin on his face" -- an apparent indication of his delight over Ray's kid glove treatment.
The only remaining fly in the ointment was Marie-Bernarde Miller, the 48-year-old African-American ex-nun appointed to prosecute Clinton before the Arkansas bar. Miller would have to sign off on any "no-trial" deal.
Kendall traveled to Little Rock to meet with Miller on Jan. 10.
Right from the start, the former member of the order of Religious Sisters of Mercy showed him that she was no easy mark.
"Miller was not about to be pushed around by Clinton's emissary," Olson wrote, "who she kept waiting for hours while she and her colleagues hashed out the matter."
"Then Miller laid down the law to Kendall. To join the plea bargain offer in this case, Bill Clinton had to accept a five-year suspension of his license to practice law in Arkansas and pay legal fees of $25,000."
"Second," said Olson, Miller insisted that "Clinton would have to acknowledge that he knowingly violated a judge's order to tell the truth" -- a stipulation apparently absent from the agreement Kendall hashed out with Independent Counsel Ray.
In marked contrast to his "frozen grin" reaction to Ray's plea deal, Olson says "Clinton was furious" and "white hot with rage" over Miller's terms.
But he "nonetheless knew it was an offer he could not refuse.... He just couldn't stand to be disbarred.... up there with Richard Nixon."
Reading the statement Clinton signed announcing Robert Ray's deal not to prosecute, it's apparent that Marie-Bernarde Miller -- and not the independent counsel -- was the driving force behind the disciplinary action.
"Today I signed a consent order in the lawsuit brought by the Arkansas Committee on Professional Conduct, which brings to an end that proceeding. I have accepted a five-year suspension of my law license, agreed to pay a $25,000 fine to cover counsel fees, and acknowledged a violation of one of Arkansas model rules for professional conduct..... The disbarment suit will now be dismissed."
Throughout the rest of Clinton's statement, released nine days after Miller faced down Kendall, the ex-president made only one reference to any punishment from Ray.
"I will not to seek any any legal fees incurred as a result of the Lewinsky investigation, to which I might otherwise become entitled under the Independent Counsel Act."
Barbara Olson's account makes it clear that, but for one courageous ex-nun from Arkansas, Bill Clinton would have walked away from the Independent Counsel's investigation without a single other sanction.
Let's not forget the members of the House of Representatives who voted to convict and the millions of Americans who could see clean through the Clinton lip-biting. I'm sure Barbara meant to add that in the footnotes.
Does anybody out there think Charlie Trie opened that Chinese restaurant in Little Rock in 1982 just to take advantage of Arkansas' vast, untapped economic potential?
Can we add a conviction to this 'legacy'?
Trouble is, I don't think he's good enough to be pure anything--even evil. . . I wonder what could be worse than evil to pollute evil. Whatever it is, that's what keeps Bimbo Crusher from being pure evil. . . . I could be wrong. . . a purely pathological liar--he could qualify readily, I'd think.
....
In marked contrast to his "frozen grin" reaction to Ray's plea deal, Olson says "Clinton was furious" and "white hot with rage" over Miller's terms.
That's OK. At his Final Judgement, as he stands before The Lord, I'm sure Clinton's expression will be something other than a frozen grin or white hot rage...
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.