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Free from influence; not free to taxpayers
At least 12 investigations into public officials have been conducted at a cost of about $160-million since 1993. While some lead to convictions, others never do.
By ANITA KUMAR
Published November 3, 2005
Valerie Plame case
Prosecutor: Patrick Fitzgerald
Investigation: Outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame
Dates: December 2003 to present
Cost: $724,041
Outcome: I. Lewis Libby was indicted on five counts of lying and obstruction of justice. Case pending.
Cisneros money
Independent Counsel: David Barrett
Investigation: Allegations housing chief Henry Cisneros lied about money paid to his mistress
Dates: May 1995 to present
Cost: $21.7 million
Outcome: Cisneros pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was fined $10,000. He was pardoned in 2001.
Whitewater
Independent Counsel: Robert Fiske/Kenneth Starr/Robert Ray/Julie Thomas Investigation: Failed Arkansas land deal, Vincent Foster suicide, firing of White House travel office, the Monica Lewinsky affair.
Dates: January 1994 to March 2004
Cost: $55.9 million
Outcome: One of the highest ranking officials indicted was associate attorney general Webster Hubbell, who pleaded guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion. Clinton avoided prosecution after he left the White House by striking a deal with prosecutors. He admitted he gave false testimony in the Lewinsky matter and accepted a $25,000 fine and suspension of his law license.
Ron Brown
Independent Counsel: Daniel Pearson
Investigation: Alleged financial improprieties by Commerce Secretary Ron Brown
Dates: July 1995 to fall 2002
Cost: $2.8 million
Outcome: Brown died in a plane crash in April 1996. The investigation was transferred to the Justice Department. Two of his business associates were indicted and pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns.
Babbitt lobbying
Independent Counsel: Carol Elder Bruce
Investigation: Accusations of improper lobbying of Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt
Dates: March 1998 to fall 2001
Cost: $6.3 million
Outcome: No indictments.
Alexis Herman
Independent Counsel: Ralph Lancaster
Investigation: Accusations of influence peddling by Labor Secretary Alexis Sherman
Dates: May 1998 to fall 2001
Cost: $5.2 million
Outcome: No indictments.
Mike Espy
Independent Counsel: Donald Smaltz
Investigation: Alleged illegal gifts to former Agricult Secretary Mike Espy
Dates: September 1994 to fall 2002
Cost: $21.5 million
Outcome: Espy was indicted on 39 corruption counts in allegations that he had received financial gifts from Tyson Foods Inc., one of the companies his department regulated. Espy was acquitted on all counts.
Samuel Pierce
Independent Counsel: Arlin Adams/Larry Thompson
Investigation: Allegations of misuse of funds by housing chief Samuel Pierce
Dates: March 1990 to fall 1999
Cost: $17.3 million
Outcome: Investigators found "a pervasive pattern of improper and illegal behavior." Sixteen criminal convictions resulted, but Pierce was not indicted.
Waco raid
Independent Counsel: John Danforth
Investigation: Government action at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas
Dates: September 1999 to fall 2001
Cost: $11.8 million
Outcome: The final report conluded the government did nothing wrong in the 1993 siege in which 80 people died.
Eli Segal
Independent Counsel: Curtis Von Kann
Investigation: Conflict of Interest by Eli Segal, Americorps chief
Dates: November 1996 to fall 1999
Cost: $467,750
Outcome: No indictments.
Passport file search
Independent Counsel: Joseph diGenova/Michael Zeldin
Investigation: Clinton Passport File Search Investigation
Dates: 1992 to spring 1997
Cost: $2.4 million
Outcome: No indictments.
Iran-Contra
Independent Counsel: Lawrence Walsh
Investigation: Iran-Contra Affair
Dates: December 1986 to fall 1995
Cost: $7.3 million
Outcome: National Security Council officials including Oliver North, Robert MacFarlane and John Poindexter were convicted or pled guilty to charges related to misleading Congress. Their convictions were later overturned based on immunity they were granted during the Congressional hearings. By 1992, former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger was under indictment on charges related to misleading Congress. Later that year, however, President George H.W. Bush pardoned Weinberger and five others charged during Iran-Contra.
Source: GAO, News reports
[Last modified November 3, 2005, 10:23:47]
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