Money
A failed land deal, a failed savings and loan, and a seven-year investigation
RECORD / AT A GLANCE
Partners convicted / Clintons not charged
There were real crimes in the Whitewater story; the McDougals were convicted. The independent counsel found Hillary Clinton’s explanations inaccurate in places but not provably false, and found insufficient evidence to charge either Clinton.
THE EVENTS / THE INVESTIGATION / THE STORY
1978
The Clintons and Jim and Susan McDougal buy Ozark land as Whitewater Development.
1989
Jim McDougal’s Madison Guaranty collapses at a taxpayer cost of about $73 million.
Jan 1996
Subpoenaed Rose Law Firm billing records turn up in the White House.
1996
The McDougals are convicted of fraud.
20 Sep 2000
Independent counsel Robert Ray says the evidence is insufficient to charge the Clintons.
READ THE FILE
Real crimes, by other people.
Subpoenaed records that turned up in the White House.
Open an article for its evidence, labeled AI assessment and numbered sources. Read the complete static edition ↗
OPEN THE RECORD
Numbered citations in each article identify the relevant sources. These records have different purposes and evidentiary weight.
Final prosecutorial report. Separate the actual fraud from insufficient evidence of the Clintons’ knowing involvement.
An appellate opinion affirming Susan McDougal’s financial convictions, republished by FindLaw; it is not a trial or conviction of either Clinton.
Contemporaneous AP report of the charging decision. It does not make a jury finding about the Clintons.
Examines Hillary’s legal work, statements and billing records; inaccurate statements were not established as knowingly false beyond reasonable doubt.
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Real crimes, by other people.
The Whitewater investment joined the Clintons with Jim and Susan McDougal. McDougal’s Madison Guaranty savings and loan failed at a taxpayer cost of about $73 million. Susan McDougal was convicted over a fraudulent $300,000 loan, part of which benefited Whitewater; Jim McDougal was convicted too. [1][2]
In September 2000 Ray announced insufficient evidence to charge either Clinton. The final report did not establish that they knowingly took part in the crimes. [1][3]
What we can’t tell you. David Hale’s claim that Bill Clinton pressed him for the loan was disputed and not proved.
Final prosecutorial report. Separate the actual fraud from insufficient evidence of the Clintons’ knowing involvement.
An appellate opinion affirming Susan McDougal’s financial convictions, republished by FindLaw; it is not a trial or conviction of either Clinton.
Contemporaneous AP report of the charging decision. It does not make a jury finding about the Clintons.
Subpoenaed records that turned up in the White House.
Hillary Clinton did legal work for Madison Guaranty at the Rose Law Firm. Her billing records, which investigators had subpoenaed, turned up in the White House in January 1996. The final report found some of her explanations inaccurate but not provably false beyond reasonable doubt, and did not establish who held the records. [1]
Examines Hillary’s legal work, statements and billing records; inaccurate statements were not established as knowingly false beyond reasonable doubt.
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