Report: Rodham Further Exploited Family Ties

W A S H I N G T O N, Feb. 26 -- Congressional Republicans are stepping up the drumbeat of questions about President Clinton’s controversial pardons amid new reports that his brother-in-law exploited his family ties to lobby — albeit unsuccessfully — for the pardon of a couple convicted of making illegal contributions to Democrats.

Citing sources close to the White House counsel’s office, The Washington Post reported in this morning’s editions that Hugh Rodham, brother of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, took advantage of his access to press for the pardons of Nora Lum and husband Eugene Kung Ho Lum. The pair pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations in 1997.

The reports leave it unclear whether Rodham had arranged to receive any particular "success fee" had he been able to arrange the pardon. Rodham’s attorney denies he represented the Lums “in any way, shape or form in connection with any pardon request.”

Will Clinton Testify?

Last week, it was revealed that Rodham was paid $400,000 for successfully arranging pardons for Carlos Vignali, a convicted cocaine smuggler, and Almon Glenn Braswell, who was convicted of fraud in 1983 for making false claims about a baldness cure.

Rodham agreed to return the money after the Clintons expressed shock at the reports. So far, Rodham has given back only about $300,000.

As the controversy shows no sign of abating, Republicans say the former president may have no choice but to tell his side of the story in hearings on Capitol Hill.

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“Ultimately, I think the president may need to come before the Congress,” Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., told NBC News this weekend. “He may want to.”

Dozoretz Raises New Questions

Meanwhile, new information has emerged about the pardon of billionaire fugitive Marc Rich — the grant that started this expanding controversy.

Beth Dozoretz, a Democratic fund-raiser and a key player in the campaign to win Rich a pardon, apparently was more in the loop than the Justice Department about Rich’s success.