Another first for Clinton -- criminal indictment earned

March 7, 2002

ATLANTA: The Southeastern Legal Foundation, the public interest law firm that successfully pursued bar sanctions that led to the forced U.S. Supreme Court disbarment action against former President Bill Clinton, believes that Independent Counsel Robert Ray's final report finding that there was sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against Clinton, "should have been pursued without resorting to a last-hour plea bargain deal," said Phil Kent, SLF President.

"The fact that Ray coaxed Clinton into signing an agreement in which he acknowledged lying under oath in a federal lawsuit, and agreed to surrender his law license for an unprecedented five-year period, underscores the fact that Ray wanted a definitive result before Clinton left office in January 2001," said Kent. "The Southeastern Legal Foundation publicly urged Ray's action while Clinton was in office, so Ray's final report is a bittersweet confirmation of years of work by SLF, the Arkansas Supreme Court Bar authorities, and former Independent Counsels Starr and Fisk."

Kent points out that SLF filed its original disbarment complaint with the Arkansas Bar in 1998, which failed to be considered until the Foundation filed an unprecedented and successful Motion to Compel directly with the Arkansas Supreme Court in 1999. In 2000, the Arkansas Committee voted unanimously to move forward with disbarment proceedings against Clinton based on the fact that Chief U.S. District Court Judge Susan Webber Wright held Clinton in civil contempt for lying under oath in the Paula Jones case. Wright's decision opened the door to potential criminal charges -- including perjury, obstruction of justice, and criminal contempt -- for the Independent Counsel's office to pursue. On his last day in office, Clinton signed an Agreed Order of Discipline acknowledging wrongdoing and surrendering his law license for five years. In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court moved to disbar Clinton, effectively ending his ability to gain a law license in any state.

"Accountability for those empowered with law enforcement, particularly those who are officers of the court like attorneys, is key to the success and public confidence in our judicial system," said Kent. "We felt it was important to pursue Mr. Clinton while he was in office to demonstrate the importance of accountability measures, and we urged quick action by the Indepedent Counsel's office. We share Mr. Ray's frustration that more could not be achieved in that timetable, despite the fact that legitimate criminal charges might otherwise now be pursued."

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