Bushies Target Hillary in Expanded Scandal Probe

Newsmax ^ | 2/9/02 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

In an astonishing reversal of President Bush's nonchalant attitude towards an array of corruption charges against Bill and Hillary Clinton, the president and his aides are now said to be "quietly pushing" a probe into allegations that Clinton staffers trashed the White House in Jan. 2001.

What's more, they've asked that the newly revved up investigation focus on the East Wing, where former first lady Hillary Clinton had her offices.

The shift could mean the GAO probe will also examine evidence that Mrs. Clinton absconded with furniture and other White House artifacts to decorate her private mansions in New York and Washington.

"White House folks suggested we cast as wide a net as possible," GAO director Bernard Ungar told the New York Daily News Saturday, adding that the Bushies wanted to redirect the probe's previous focus from the Eisenhower office building to Mrs. Clinton official digs.

The request for action on the Clinton vandalism charges prompted complaints from GAO chief David Walker, who told the News, "they want us to do more work than is even reasonable."

The Clinton probe could prove distracting to Walker's focus in recent weeks: prying loose White House records on meetings between Vice President Dick Cheney and Enron officials.

Immediately after reports of White House vandalism, Bush seemed to take no interest in the episode and urged the media to look that other way.

"There might have been a prank or two, maybe somebody put a cartoon on the wall, but that's OK." he told reporters. "It's time now to move forward."

But after Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner complained last June that Clinton workers had been unfairly smeared and demanded the Bushies apologize, White House press spokesman Ari Fleischer said the destruction was more extensive then the president had let on.

A list of damages he released included:

75 phones that had been "tampered with," including 10 where the lines had been cut.

Twenty percent of the desks in the Eisenhower Office complex had been overturned.

Obscene graffiti was discovered by Bush staffers in six offices.

A 20-inch-wide presidential seal had been ripped off a wall.

One hundred computer keyboards had been rendered inoperable by the Clinton vandals.

Pornography was left behind in White House photocopiers.

Trash was spilled throughout the White House counsel's office, along with other assorted random damage.

One estimate put the cost of the destruction as high as $250,000.

Bush administration spokeswoman Claire Buchan said the White House counsel's office had photographs of the vandalism, but did not explain why they were not offered to the GAO when the agency first requested proof in April.

In releasing the list of damages, Fleischer explained, "We tried to be gracious, but the last administration would not take graciousness." Claims that Bush staffers had lied about the destruction had forced him to respond, he said.

After Fleischer's comments, the GAO's Ungar began backtracking on his April report that there was no unusual damage to the White House after Clinton staffers departed.

"Ungar said the GAO found accounts of damage that included telephones disconnected from wall jacks, phones with extension numbers defaced and tables and desks that were overturned," reported Newsday, in a follow up story on Fleischer's list.

It's not clear whether the White House's newly aggressive attitude will translate into action in the office of the U.S. Attorney for New York's Southern District, which has been accused of footdragging in its probe into the Clinton Pardongate scandal.

[NYC GOP Chick]

I thought the bitch had an office in the West Wing.

[mountaineer]

"Bushies"?

[chainsaw]

Nothing will surprise me about the trash from Hope.

[aodell]

Bushies Target Hillary in Expanded Scandal Probe

It's hard to call something that big a "target". (No physical slurs intended, even though they too would be accurate).

[illbenice]

Man thats some harssh language! Next step, I hope,
President George W. Bush will investigate "China gate".

[weikel]

Heh heh heh heh heh heh. Good.

[WIMom]

As long as it's investigated. These criminals will get their day.

[End Times Sentinel]

These charges don’t seem credible, $250,000 in vandalism? Sounds like something someone being evicted from a housing project might do. I find it hard to believe that the Clintons and their posse would have no respect for the White House… oh, wait, no I don’t

Owl _ Eagle
“Guns before butter.”

[KantianBurke]

dumb move if true. It looks petty and an attempt to shift the focus from Enron. Besides, they had their chance MONTHS ago.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The request for action on the Clinton vandalism charges prompted complaints from GAO chief David Walker, who told the News, "they want us to do more work than is even reasonable."

The Clinton probe could prove distracting to Walker's focus in recent weeks: prying loose White House records on meetings between Vice President Dick Cheney and Enron officials.

Hey Mr Walker, get your fat ass out of this circus that's already wasted too much taxpayer's money and start doing what you're here to do. And if she's got a lot of bare walls or enmpty rooms when you get there we don't want excuses babe.

[WIMom]

It would be petty if they investigated immediately when they got in office. One of the first things GWB did was a tax break, then the terrorist attack. Besides, I don't doubt they have been gathering evidence and data all this time. Do you honestly believe they could announce this if they didn't have a leg to stand on? The most corrupt administration will be busted eventually.

[thirst4truth]

Bushies? who Bush 41 and mama Bush and Laura and George? Are the daughters in on the investigation too?

[MeekOneGOP]

Bushies Target Hillary in Expanded Scandal Probe

A picture is worth a thousand words. . .

Excerpt:

In an astonishing reversal of President Bush's nonchalant attitude towards an array of corruption charges against Bill and Hillary Clinton, the president and his aides are now said to be "quietly pushing" a probe into allegations that Clinton staffers trashed the White House in Jan. 2001. What's more, they've asked that the newly revved up investigation focus on the East Wing, where former first lady Hillary Clinton had her offices.

The shift could mean the GAO probe will also examine evidence that Mrs. Clinton absconded with furniture and other White House artifacts to decorate her private mansions in New York and Washington.

"White House folks suggested we cast as wide a net as possible," GAO director Bernard Ungar told the New York Daily News Saturday, adding that the Bushies wanted to redirect the probe's previous focus from the Eisenhower office building to Mrs. Clinton official digs.

The request for action on the Clinton vandalism charges prompted complaints from GAO chief David Walker, who told the News, "they want us to do more work than is even reasonable."

The Clinton probe could prove distracting to Walker's focus in recent weeks: prying loose White House records on meetings between Vice President Dick Cheney and Enron officials.

---

Oh, yeah! Walker would rather go after the Enron ghost. . .
(((PING))))))
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[willieroe]

From The New York Daily News article

Clinton Inquiry Pushed

White House seeks broader look into vandalism rap

By TIMOTHY J. BURGER
Daily News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- President Bush and his aides have quietly pushed to expand the year-long probe into alleged vandalism by departing Clinton staffers, the Daily News has learned.

The administration's eagerness to cooperate and encourage the General Accounting Office investigation contrasts sharply with statements in which Bush and his spokesman had publicly downplayed the vandalism tempest.

General Accounting Office chief David Walker says Bush aides want his office to 'do more than is even humanly possible' in vandalism probe.

GAO chief David Walker said Bush aides "want us to do more work than is even reasonable" in the vandalism probe.

Bernie Ungar, a GAO director in charge of the investigation, said, "White House folks suggested that we cast as wide a net as possible."

Ungar said Bush aides urged the agency to expand its scope to include the White House's East Wing — where Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) had her offices as First Lady — but investigators stuck to the West Wing and the Eisenhower office building.

100 Aides Interviewed

The White House has granted every information and interview request — including 100 Bush aides, all the way up to chief of staff Andrew Card.

Card was interviewed for an "ample amount of time" in November, Ungar said.

Walker said he hopes to wrap up the 13-month investigation by spring.

Clinton staffers were accused of sabotaging everything from phones and computers to doorknobs and closets.

A year ago, Bush and his aides made public statements suggesting they were not interested in pushing the probe.

"There might have been a prank or two, maybe somebody put a cartoon on the wall, but that's okay," Bush said. "It's time now to move forward."

'A Double Standard'

At the time, Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer said, "I think that whatever took place is past. ... As far as we're concerned, it's over."

The cooperation in the vandalism probe also contrasts sharply with the steadfast White House resistance to a GAO demand for records from Vice President Cheney's energy policy task force, critics said. They include details of a meeting between Cheney and disgraced ex-Enron chief Kenneth Lay and at least five other task force meetings with company officials.

"It's clearly a double standard," said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), who asked the GAO last year to obtain the Cheney records.

But White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said, "They are completely different matters. The matter related to the vice president's meetings is totally outside the bounds of the GAO's authority."

"The vandalism matter relates to the treatment of government property and it's clearly within the scope and authority of the GAO," she said.

Asked about the difference in cooperation between the energy task force and vandalism inquiries, Walker told The News, "It's facts and circumstances as to how much they want to cooperate."

[deport]

The request for action on the Clinton vandalism charges prompted complaints from GAO chief David Walker, who told the News, "they want us to do more work than is even reasonable."

Well Chief Walker may need to hire some more help if he can't keep up with the work..... lol.

[WIMom]

These people sicken me. I want to see them in a federal prision for treason. But, tax evasion worked for Al Capone.......

[Mortimer Snavely]

The Clintons remind me of low class trailer trash who are the nicest people you've ever met, and promise to take care of things when you go on an extended trip. They then hawk everything you have of value at the nearest pawn shop the day after you leave. When you come back, they treat you like an annoying street lunatic they've never met before in their lives when you want to know what happened to your TV, stereo, CD/DVD player, satellite dish, and the Walther your uncle took from a German major in Sicily.

[Teacher317]

LOL, Bush just might get around to doing everything that his critics on the Right (myself included) are whining that 'he hasn't done yet and probably never will!' I do admire him on many levels (and I LOVE all the refreshing contrasts between Bush and Clinton), but I refuse to stop griping until we're openly marching back towards the Constitution.

[WIMom]

Second picture needs a Chinese flag.....