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.

Memo to the Clintons: Dummy Up

The sheer gall these people have. After lining their pockets with dubious money from an assortment of criminals, thugs, fugitives and other miscreants, the Clintons should know better than to flap their gums over the commutation of Scooter Libby.

The White House yesterday ridiculed Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton for complaining about President Bush's decision to keep former vice-presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby Jr. out of jail, saying their criticism smacks of hypocrisy.

"I don't know what Arkansan is for chutzpah, but this is a gigantic case of it," press secretary Tony Snow said.

The White House also suggested that a slew of pardons granted by Mr. Clinton on his final day in office were never properly investigated and said they ought to be.

"This provides a nice chance to go back and look at the Clinton pardons. ... What is interesting is perhaps it was just because he was on his way out, but while there was a small flurry, there was not much investigation of it," Mr. Snow said.

"If you take a look at news reports — people scurrying about, clutching pieces of paper, running around — I think those final hours were probably not times of long chin-pulling reflection," he said.

The day Mr. Bush took office, Mr. Clinton granted 141 pardons and 36 commutations. Among those given full pardons on Jan. 20, 2001, were fugitive financier Marc Rich, who evaded $48 million in taxes and was charged with having illegal oil transactions with Iran during the 1980 hostage crisis.

Mr. Rich fled to Switzerland in 1983 and his socialite wife, Denise became a large donor to the Democratic Party and the Clinton library during Mr. Clinton's time in office.

Since they're apparently not as bright as their Slick-o-phants like to pretend, then let them keep talking. Not that any of the overwhelmingly liberal media will dare to call The Pantsuit on it during any debates, but now she's ripe for a media blitz against her when the general election rolls around.

Whoever the GOP nominee is better get the commercials ready detailing the countless pardons for shady operators they doled out when they were fleeing the White House in shame back in 2001.