U.S. Attorney to Review Rich Pardon

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2001 -- A U.S. attorney has kicked off an investigation to determine whether fugitive billionaire Marc Rich effectively bought a pardon from President Clinton.

Sources tell ABCNEWS that Mary Jo White, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, is set to begin issuing subpoenas in a preliminary investigation aimed at determining whether any criminal laws were violated. An FBI agent also has been assigned to the case, the sources say.

White was said to be outraged that Clinton failed to consult her before issuing the pardon on his last day in the White House. Prosecutors call the investigation a "natural progression of the case."

News of the investigation comes late on the same day a Senate committee opened hearings into whether or not Denise Rich, ex-wife of the financier, made large monetary contributions to Clinton's campaign and presidential library in exchange for the pardon.

Denise Rich has donated more than $1.5 million to the Democratic Party, to Clinton's campaigns, to Hillary Rodham Clinton's Senate campaign, and to the $200 million Clinton library. Senate Began Hearings This Morning

The Senate Judiciary Committee is seeking to understand why Clinton pardoned Rich and his partner Pincus Green, commodities traders who U.S. law enforcement had viewed as two of the most-wanted fugitives in the world.

Sources believe the investigators' first step will be to collect financial documents related to the pardon.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, today said the former president himself should say whether Denise Rich paid for the pardon.

"There are many appropriate ways President Clinton could do thatin a variety of settings that would respect the office he used to holdas well as help the public understand what has happened," Hatch said.

The Senate Committee also sent a letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft today requesting the Justice Department's opinion on whether or not Ms. Rich should get immunity in exchange for testimony.

It will take at least one week for the Justice Department to arrive at a final conclusion on this matter," said Senate Judiciary Chairman Dan Burton, R-Ind., in a statement.