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CNN Today

Can Congress Compel Denise Rich to Testify?

Aired February 8, 2001 - 4:19 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: Throughout this day here on CNN, you've been watching coverage of the House Government Reform Committee, which has been looking into the pardon of financier Marc Rich by the outgoing president, Bill Clinton, in his final hours of office.

One big question is the involvement of Mr. Rich's ex-wife, Denise Rich, who is an important figure in the entertainment industry and has been a major contributor to the Democratic Party. The Government Reform Committee would like to hear from her; however, she has informed the committee she plans to invoke her Fifth Amendment right not to testify.

We have received a statement from her attorney, Martin Pollner. In it, it says: "Ms. Rich has a deep respect for the United States Congress and the workings of its committees. However, on the advise of counsel, until her attorneys have had sufficient opportunity to review all the relevant facts and circumstances, Ms. Rich is asserting her constitutional right not to respond to questions from Chairman Burton about her limited role in her ex-husband's pardon application."

Again, that is the statement from Denise Rich's attorney.

CNN's Bob Franken is covering the hearing of the House Government Reform Committee.

Bob, what about testimony from Denise Rich -- is there a way to get her there if she does not want to incriminate herself, or is she concerned that she might incriminate herself?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, as a matter of fact Dan Burton, the Republican chairman of the committee says he is going to the Justice Department and seek immunity for her, which would then take away her right to not testify because of self-incrimination. So that's the dance that's going on right now.

What's interesting about this claim of right against self- incrimination is that the attorney by -- the statement from Mr. Pollner goes on to say that Ms. Rich has done nothing wrong in her limited role in this matter. And let's just discuss, very briefly, her role. As you pointed out, Joie, she's a major contributor to the Democratic Party; has held fund-raisers for the Clintons; even gave them some furniture, which, of course, is the subject of another controversy. But she -- when she wrote the letter, many people have argued, Republicans in particular, she was taking advantage of the fact that she had been considered such a close friend of the Clintons, such a contributor that she might have some influence. There have even been charges that that was influence peddling -- that coming from Dan Burton.

So what has happened is is that the committee sent her a list of questions. This morning she said that she would not, in fact, answer the questions out of fear of self-incrimination -- taking her Fifth Amendment right. The committee is now saying they're going to go to the Justice Department and seek immunity.

So right now, what seems to be going on is the lawyers trying to reach some sort of accommodation where his client is protected and she is able to, perhaps, have a limited set of questions. That's the kind of negotiation that's going on right now, apparently, in the public.

CHEN: All right; Bob Franken, stand by there on Capitol Hill.

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