Washington - A one-time White House counsel, Mr Jack Quinn, told a US Congressional hearing he did nothing unethical in helping to persuade the former president, Mr Bill Clinton, to pardon the fugitive billionaire, Mr Marc Rich.
Mr Quinn was addressing the first of what promises to be several contentious hearings into the pardon, which will explore whether it was influenced by hundreds of thousands of dollars in Democratic campaign donations from Mr Rich's ex-wife, Denise, or by the involvement of Mr Rich's lawyer, Mr Quinn. In prepared testimony, Mr Quinn said he had kept both the White House and the Justice Department informed of what he was doing, including the former Deputy Attorney General, Mr Eric Holder.
"While you may disagree with President Clinton's decision I believe that the facts establish I represented my client's interests fairly, vigorously and ethically,"