I Agree with Bill Clinton

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) — Former President Bill Clinton blasted his successor’s decision to spare former White House aide Lewis “Scooter” Libby from prison, telling Iowa radio listeners that Libby’s case differed from his own administration’s pardon controversy. The former president said, “I think the facts were different.”

For once I have to agree with Bill Clinton. The commuting of Scooter Libby’s sentence did differ and the facts were different from Clinton’s pardons. Bush was not paid to pardon Scooter Libby. Laura Bush’s brothers were not involved. Scooter Libby was not convicted of terrorism against the United States. His family members did not contribute millions to the Bush Library to secure a pardon. I do agree with Bill Clinton– there is a difference.

Clinton commuted the sentences of 16 members of FALN, a violent Puerto Rican nationalist group that set off 120 bombs in the United States mostly in New York City and Chicago, convicted for conspiracies to commit robbery, bomb-making, and sedition, as well as for firearms and explosives violations.

Marc Rich, a fugitive, was pardoned of tax evasion, Denise Rich, Marc’s former wife, was a close friend of the Clinton’s and had made substantial donations to both Clinton’s library and Hillary’s Senate campaign.

Carlos Vignali, 30, had his 15-year sentence for conspiracy to sell cocaine reduced to time served, and walked free on Clinton’s last day in office. His father, Horacio, is a rich and powerful leader in the Los Angeles Hispanic community who has made large donations to the Democratic party. Hugh Rodham, Hillary’s brother, received $400,000 to lobby for the pardon of Vignali.

Hillary Clinton’s other brother Anthony Rodham was embroiled in an federal investigation involving his selling pardons.