Senator says probe of Clinton pardons winding down

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The senator leading that chamber's investigation of former President Clinton's pardons of financier Marc Rich and others said Sunday a criminal probe of the matter "kind of puts a damper" on his own effort, which he said would wind down shortly.

Speaking on CNN's Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania, said he still wanted to talk to Clinton about the pardons.

"I think that we'll wind down the investigation in the Senate except for the outstanding issue with former President Clinton," Specter said. Referring to an aide to Clinton, Specter said, "It may be that he prefers the U.S. attorney to call on the president or he might think that it's better to talk to senators."

U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White is investigating the pardons and sentence commutations, amid questions as to whether donations to Democrats and the Clinton library foundation influenced the pardons process. Clinton has rejected that suggestion, saying he made his decisions based on the merits of each case. A House committee has also held hearings on the pardons.

Appearing on the same program, Sen. John Breaux, D-Louisiana, said it was time to move on from the congressional probes of the pardons. "We need to do other things," he said.

Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., also endorsed the idea that Congress should look forward and not spend much longer reviewing Clinton's handling of pardons.

"I think we should look at some remedial action or some sort of advice to future presidents," Lott said on Fox News Sunday, calling Clinton's use of that executive privilege "a shameful exercise."

Attorney General John Ashcroft said the Justice Department was reviewing pardon procedures to ensure all relative parties are notified before any future pardons are granted. Some of Clinton's pardons bypassed the normal Justice Department channels.

"I have decided in the Justice Department to make sure that we look at our procedures so that we can make sure that prosecution is adequately heard, the prosecutors, when we're considering a pardon, and the victims are adequately heard," Ashcroft said on Fox.

Hastert sees pardon investigations drawing to a close
March 10, 2001
Gallup poll: Clinton popularity at all-time low
March 9, 2001
Lott says it's time to 'move on' in pardons probe
March 6, 2001
Aide denies Clinton considering talk with Specter
March 5, 2001
Tony Rodham says he talked to Clinton about pardon
March 3, 2001

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