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Pardons Involving Hugh Rodham Could Reignite Controversy

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DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's return to the issue of President Clinton's last-minute pardons, and the investigation that is widening in scope and deepening in rancor. The latest spark in the firestorm: the former first lady's brother. Hugh Rodham collected nearly $400,000 for helping two men win presidential intervention.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve begins our coverage; she has more from Washington.

Jeanne, hello again.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn.

Hugh Rodham, the brother of Hillary Rodham Clinton and an attorney was paid this money for working on two cases: one, the commutation of the sentence of Carlos Vignali; he was convicted and serving time for transporting 800 pounds of cocaine. Also for working on the pardon of Almon Glenn Braswell; he's a businessman who had been convicted on mail fraud and perjury charges.

Now, an attorney for Hugh Rodham issued a statement last night saying that Rodham had done nothing wrong and was returning the money -- $400,000. President Clinton also issued a statement; his statement said, yesterday, that would be Tuesday: "I became aware of press inquiries that Hugh Rodham received a contingency fee in connection with the pardon application by Glenn Braswell and a fee for work on the Carlos Vignali commutation application. Neither Hillary nor I had any knowledge of such payments; we are deeply disturbed by these reports and insist that Hugh return any monies received."

What this statement does not answer is whether Clinton was, in fact, lobbied by his brother-in-law in this matter and whether any of the -- and whether this lobbying, if there was any, had any influence on his decision. CNN has now learned that the Justice Department had weighed in against the pardon for Vignali.

Joining me now from Capitol Hill, Kate Snow.

Kate, what's congressional reaction?

KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's across the board, Jeanne; it's varied. Republican aides telling me now that some Republicans are going to be reluctant to respond to these latest developments. And the reason is, they feel that if they get involved in another battle with the former president that that may reflect badly on them. That people will say, oh, look, it's just the Republicans out to get President Clinton.

So some Republicans taking a sort of wait-and-see approach; but one Republican who is not and who has been out front on this already is Representative Dan Burton; he heads the House Government Reform Committee. He, of course, has been involved in looking into the Marc Rich pardon. He now has sent letters out investigating -- trying to start an investigation into this issue as well. He sent letters last night to Hugh Rodham, asking Mr. Rodham to please list anyone that he helped get a pardon for and asking him to outline what kind of money he received for those services, who he was in contact with at the White House -- and that's a particularly relevant question that many people would like to see answered. Also letters sent out to the people involved in those pardons: Carlos Vignali and also the attorney for Glenn Braswell -- that letter sent out this morning -- Jeanne.

MESERVE: Kate Snow on Capitol Hill, thanks.

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