The last-day pardons

Marc Rich and Pincus Green had been charged in 1983 and had stayed abroad rather than face trial. Their petition went straight to the White House, without the usual notice to prosecutors or the Pardon Attorney. [1][2]

Rich’s ex-wife, Denise Rich, a prominent Democratic donor, gave $450,000 to the Clinton library in three instalments from 1998 to May 2000 and lobbied for the pardon. She invoked the Fifth Amendment rather than answer the House committee’s questions. [6]

Pardon Attorney Roger Adams told the Senate that Justice Department rules do not bind the president. The House report “Justice Undone” criticised the process. The criminal inquiry into whether the pardon was bought closed in 2005 without charges. [3][4][5]

Hugh Rodham, Hillary Clinton’s brother, accepted about $400,000 to push clemency for drug dealer Carlos Vignali and health-product marketer Almon Glenn Braswell, both granted on the last day. He returned the money after the Clintons said they were “deeply disturbed” to learn of it. [1]

In 1999 Clinton offered clemency to 16 members of the FALN, a Puerto Rican independence group blamed for bombings from 1974 to 1983. None was convicted of a bombing; they were serving 35 to 90 years for bomb-making, conspiracy, armed robbery and other charges. Fourteen accepted. [1]

The Senate condemned the offer 95–2. Hillary Clinton, preparing her New York Senate race, opposed it. [2]