Bill Clinton pardoned Marc Rich in exchange for donations
| Bill Clinton pardoned Marc Rich in exchange for donations | |
|---|---|
| UNSUPPORTED | |
| "Bill Clinton sold a presidential pardon to fugitive financier Marc Rich in return for donations from Rich's ex-wife to the Clinton library and the Democratic Party." | |
| Domain | Government, Law & Courts |
| Tactic | Conspiracy Theory |
| Era | Historical |
| First seen | 2001 |
| Origin | Reaction to Clinton's last-day pardons on January 20, 2001, and congressional hearings that followed |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-29 |
| Further reading: books on Government, Law & Courts | |
On his last day in office, January 20, 2001, Bill Clinton pardoned Marc Rich, a commodities trader who had fled the United States in 1983 to avoid charges of tax evasion and illegal oil trading. Rich's former wife, Denise Rich, had given large donations to the Clinton presidential library and to Democratic causes. The pardon was widely condemned, and federal prosecutors opened an investigation into whether it had been bought. In 2002 the investigation was closed without charges.
The claim
Critics said the timing of the donations and the pardon showed a quid pro quo.
What the evidence shows
- Real donations. Denise Rich gave about $450,000 to the Clinton library foundation and more than $1 million to Democratic campaigns over several years.
- Investigation closed. The US Attorney's office in Manhattan investigated the pardon and closed the case in 2002 without bringing charges. FBI files released in 2016 did not reveal evidence of a deal.
- A real controversy. Congressional inquiries criticized the pardon process, including the role of Rich's lawyer, former White House counsel Jack Quinn, and the bypassing of normal Justice Department review. Clinton later called the pardon a mistake in terms of its political cost but defended its merits.
Why it matters
The pardon raised legitimate questions about access and the pardon power. Whether it was purchased is a separate question that investigators were unable to substantiate.
Sources
- US House Committee on Government Reform, Justice Undone: Clemency Decisions in the Clinton White House, 2002.
- Associated Press, "Feds drop Clinton clemency probe," June 2002.
- NPR, "More Surprises: FBI Releases Files On Bill Clinton's Pardon Of Marc Rich," November 1, 2016.