Mark Rich Scooter Libby Arpaio

[Cicada]

3. Marc Rich was innocent and his pardon was appropriate

Marc Rich was not convicted in a contested trial. He fled in anticipation of Giuliani's indictment. There were tax evasion and trading with Iran charges. The trading with Iran violations related to a law struck down as unconstitutional. Rich would not have been convicted had there been a contested trial because his appeal would have prevailed. On the tax count two distinguished law professors, one the husband of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, the other Bernard Wolfman of Harvard, effectively the guy who "wrote the book" on what tax laws meant, told Clinton that Marc Rich took reasonable positions in how he reported the contested matters on his tax returns. Tax fraud requires knowingly taking an unreasonable position which just wasn't the case with Rich. He got professional advice which the two professors said was sound. Also Denise Rich wasn't the only person supporting the pardon. The government of Israel strongly urged the pardon because Rich was critical to the efforts of the Mossad in the Middle East. Were he in jail the success of the Mossad would have been greatly harmed.

"Everyone knows" the pardon was corrupt, based on contributions by Denise. But what "everyone knows" in this case is bull shit. Marc Rich did not break tax or trading with Iran laws.