COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Former President Bill Clinton says that he will cooperate with a new criminal investigation into his pardon of financier Marc Rich. Clinton denies any wrongdoing. But in New York, a federal prosecutor wants to know if any money changed hands in connection with the Rich pardon. And in Washington, it's also a hot topic on Capitol Hill, where national correspondent Bob Franken is watching all the developments there -- Bob.</s>BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And at issue, as you pointed out, is: Was there, what we are now all learning is a quid pro quo? In other words, did the presidential pardon come as the result of some sort of financial consideration? Mary Jo White, who is the U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York in fact is a Clinton appointee. But she was reported to be quite upset that she was not consulted before the Marc Rich pardon was granted. So, once again, ex-President Clinton has to do what he did many times as president, and put out a statement saying: "As I have said repeatedly, I made the decision to pardon Marc Rich based on what I thought was the right thing to do. I look forward to cooperating with any appropriate inquiry." Well, in addition to the federal criminal investigation now, the Congress, of course, is conducting its own inquiries. And yesterday, during testimony before the Senate Committee, the lawyer for Marc Rich -- the former White House counsel, Jack Quinn -- echoed Clinton's remarks.</s>JACK QUINN, MARC RICH ATTY.: You may disagree with him and with me. You may believe he made a terrible mistake. But I tell you today that nothing -- absolutely nothing in my conversations with him remotely suggested to me that he was thinking about or motivated by his friendships, his politics, or his library.</s>FRANKEN: Now, interestingly, most of the public investigation has been conducted in Congress. But now comes a criminal investigation, much more private. It could dampen for a while the controversy over the pardon -- Bob Franken, CNN live, Capitol Hill.
Clinton Says He Will Cooperate with Criminal Investigation into Marc Rich Pardon