Breaking News

Clintons Agree to Return Furniture

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go back to Washington, now, where CNN's Bob Franken has learned that Bill and Hillary Clinton have told the White House they'll be sending back some of the furnishings which were presented to them as gifts on the occasion of their departing from the White House.

Here's Bob Franken from Capitol Hill -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Stephen, you know this is the $28,000 worth of furnishings, a couch, some kitchen set, et cetera, that there were questions raised whether it actually belonged to the White House or belonged to the Clintons.

The Clintons have decided, they said, to send the furniture back. Not that they are in any way acknowledging that the records didn't suggest that they had a right to those furnishings, but since questions are made, they wanted to make sure, they told the U.S. Park Service and the head usher of the White House, wanted to make sure that they did not inadvertently take something that did not belong to them.

Now, the Park Service has put out a statement saying that in fact it will receive the material. The Park Service is the legal custodian of donations that are made to the White House. The Park Service will keep it. A spokesman for the Park Service said that it was his understanding that the material was being shipped right now.

So, the Clintons have decided to end the controversy, even though they clearly argue that the records show they had a right to the furniture. They are sending back that $28,000.

Of course, the home furnishings that the Clintons took with them have been controversial since they left the White House. As a matter of fact, they agreed to pay for about half of it out of a foundation. So they're trying to end this controversy, and of course, Steve, hopefully end all the controversies around the home furnishings.

FRAZIER: Bob Franken with a breaking news story, right up to the final moments of our program. Bob, thank you very much.

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