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White House: Clinton would not pardon himself |
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April 13, 2000
WASHINGTON, APR 12 (AP) - President Bill Clinton would not pardon himself to avoid prosecution in the Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky investigations, his spokesman said.
White House press secretary Joe Lockhart was asked Tuesday whether Clinton might pardon himself before he leaves office on January 20.
Whitewater Independent Counsel Robert Ray's continuing investigation has lent credence to an idea that once seemed far-fetched: That an independent counsel might try to indict Clinton for perjury or another alleged crime after the president's term is over. Ray, who took over from Kenneth Starr last year, has not ruled this out.
"Can you assure us the president will not pardon himself on or before January the 20th?" a reporter asked during Tuesday's regular White House press briefing.
"Yes," Lockhart replied. Lockhart also said he knows of no discussion between Clinton and Vice President Al Gore about a possible presidential pardon should Gore succeed his boss as president.
A Little Rock, Arkansas, federal judge fined Clinton dlrs 90,000 after concluding a year ago that he gave "false, misleading and evasive answers that were designed to obstruct the judicial process" during a deposition in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit. That suit, later dismissed, led to the Monica Lewinsky investigation.
Judge Susan Webber Wright found Clinton in contempt of court, citing 10 specific instances in which Clinton denied that he had sexual relations with Lewinsky and said he could not recall being alone with her.
Wright specified civil, not criminal, contempt in order to preserve the independent counsel's option of prosecuting Clinton after he leaves office.
The only president ever pardoned was Richard Nixon. President Gerald Ford, who succeeded Nixon in office, said he never had a deal with Nixon about granting a pardon.
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