Mrs. Clinton Gets Payback for Pardons

Of course, it's dismissed as not being illegal, but this stinks to high heaven and is so typical of the sleazebag Clintons.

I can just see it at the debate tonight.

Wolf Blitzer: "Doesn't it appear incredibly sleazy that you're accepting money from people your husband pardoned?"

Mrs. Clinton: "Hahahahahahahahaha. Well, you know, Wolf, that's old news. We need to move on and tackle the tough issues facing us today ..."

OK, we'll stop dreaming. Blitzer's testicles are safely tucked away in the lockbox.

But now that this story has come along, can't we dream a little more?

Hillary Clinton Takes Cash From Recipients of Husband's Controversial Pardons

Three recipients of controversial 11th-hour pardons issued by former President Bill Clinton in January 2001 have donated thousands of dollars to the presidential campaign of his wife, Democratic front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., according to campaign finance records examined by ABC News, in what some good government groups said created an appearance of impropriety.

"It's not illegal," Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told ABC News. "But, of course, it's inappropriate and she should return the money. It does raise the appearance that this is payback.

"One can only hope that she wasn't yet aware of who made the donations," said Sloan.

Smug spokeshack Howard Wolfson, who condescedingly sneered when the Norman Hsu case came to light, once again oozes with contempt:

"We have raised over $65 million from over 200,000 people," said Clinton campaign manager Howard Wolfson, adding sarcastically, "I appreciate your bringing the instance of this $5,300 and these three people to our attention."

What a jerk.

So who are these folks giving money?

One of the pardonees who has become a donor to Sen. Clinton is David Herdlinger, a former prosecutor in Springdale, Ark., who, according to press accounts at the time of his pardon pleaded guilty in 1986 to mail fraud after taking bribes to reduce or drop charges against defendants charged with drunken driving offenses.

Now a life and business coach in Georgia, Herdlinger was pardoned by President Clinton in January 2001; he donated $1,000 to Sen. Clinton's presidential campaign in August.

Insurance agent Alfredo Regalado, who gave Hillary Clinton $2,000, was pardoned by her husband for failing to "report the transportation of currency in excess of $10,000 into the United States," according to the Department of Justice.

You'll recognize the third name.

John Deutch is a different case, having served as President Clinton's CIA director.

Pardoned by President Clinton for charges he had mishandled government secrets -- but before the Department of Justice could file the proper paperwork against him.

Deutch, now a professor at MIT, gave Sen. Clinton the maximum allowable donation, $2,300.

Neither Herdlinger nor Regalado nor Deutch could be reached for comment.

Naturally.

UPDATE: Also at Hot Air, American Pundit.