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Feds to quiz N.Y. legislator in pardons probe

From Ronni Berke
CNN New York Bureau

MESSAGE BOARD Clinton pardons

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NEW YORK (CNN) -- Federal investigators probing the commutations of four Hasidic Jewish men by President Clinton on his last day in office want to interview New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, his spokesman told CNN.

Investigators contacted Silver last week to arrange a meeting, Charles Carrier, a spokesman for Silver, the Democratic state assembly leader from Manhattan, said in a phone interview.

Carrier said the investigators did not specify what they would ask about, but he "assumed" one topic would be the August 7, 2000, visit of Hillary Clinton to New Square during her Senate campaign.

Silver, an Orthodox Jew and supporter of Hillary Clinton, was one of several elected officials who accompanied her to New Square during the August visit in which Clinton met with Grand Rabbi David Twersky.

Carrier said no date has been set for investigators to meet with Silver, but if asked, Silver will tell them "he neither overheard conversations taking place nor is he aware of any conversations that took place about pardons. That is what he's prepared to say when interviewed."

A spokesman from the office of U.S. Attorney Mary Joe White refused to comment on the pardon investigation.

White's office has launched a criminal investigation into controversial pardons and commutations by President Clinton, including the pardon of expatriate businessman Marc Rich and the commutations of the sentences of the four Hasidic Jews convicted of fraud.

Critics of the pardons and commutations question whether efforts by New Square leaders on behalf of Hillary Clinton's campaign played a role in the clemency decisions.

Clinton announced 140 pardons and 36 sentence commutations a few hours before he left office January 20.

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