Hillary Signs Onto Pardon Reform

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday signed onto legislation to reform the pardon system, the issue that tainted her husband's exit from the White House and marred her own entrance into the Senate.

The bill by Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., would require those pressing for presidential pardons and commutations to register as lobbyists. The bill would also require disclosure for those who donate more than $5,000 to presidential libraries.

Clinton's agreeing to co-sponsor the bill creates an odd pairing. Specter has been one of the most outspoken critics of former President Clinton's decision to pardon fugitive financier Marc Rich.

"She looked over the proposal and believed it was a common-sense disclosure bill and decided to support it," Hillary Clinton spokesman Jim Kennedy said.

Rich's ex-wife, songwriter and socialite Denise Rich, is a generous Democratic donor who contributed at least $109,000 to Hillary Clinton's Senate bid. She also gave $450,000 to Bill Clinton's library foundation in Little Rock, Ark., prompting critics to question whether there was a money-for-pardons deal.

Currently, donations to presidential library foundations are not subject to campaign disclosure laws, and congressional investigators received limited access to the donor list to the Clinton library only after issuing subpoenas.

Hillary Clinton also became embroiled in the pardon controversy, most notably when it was revealed that her younger brother, Hugh Rodham, was paid more than $400,000 for his work lobbying to secure a pardon and a commutation. He later agreed to return the money.

Hillary Clinton said she did not know of her brother's involvement and was "heartbroken" to learn of it.

Also Thursday, the chairman of the Senate Rules Committee proposed that newly elected senators immediately abide by Senate ethics laws rather than wait until they are sworn in.

While an aide to Sen. Mitch McConnell said the Kentucky Republican made the proposal without any particular lawmaker in mind, Sen. Clinton had drawn sharp and very public criticism when she left the White House with nearly $200,000 in gifts in January.

Some accused Hillary Clinton and the president of accepting pricey furniture and other presents before leaving the White House to skirt the Senate gift ban. Some of the gifts were returned after questions arose over whether the items were intended as personal gifts or donations to the White House.

McConnell's provision would make senators subject to Senate rules — including a $50 limit on gifts — when they are certified election winners. Currently, senators come under the rules only after they are sworn in, about two months later.

McConnell quietly signaled his intention to change the Senate rule last week as the Senate began debting campaign finance reform legislation. His spokesman Robert Steurer said it was now unlikely McConnell would seek the rule change as part of the ongoing campaign finance debate but could seek the change at a later date.

"We think it's a great idea," said Gary Ruskin, executive director of the Congressional Accountability Project, a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group that has called for stricter Senate ethics guidelines.

Sen. Clinton also supported the proposal, her spokesman said.

Clinton's conduct came under fire after it was learned that she and Bill Clinton left the White House with $190,027 worth of furniture and other gifts. It is unknown whether any of those gifts arrived in November and December, while she was a senator-elect.

Separately, the former first lady also faced criticism for the $8 million memoir deal she signed as a senator-elect. But even if the McConnell provision had been in place it would not have applied to her book deal because Senate rules exempt royalties from the chamber's ban on outside income.