The FBI’s search of former President Trump’s home is unprecedented. But the ongoing federal investigation into a former president is not a first for this country.
“Well it’s certainly not the first time there’s been a high level investigation of an ex president. And the most recent example is Bill Clinton,” presidential historian and former professor Patrick Maney said.
Jan. 20, 2001 was former President Clinton’s last day in office. On that day, he pardoned billionaire Marc Rich over charges of tax evasion, fraud and racketeering.
It later came out that Rich’s ex-wife, Denise, had donated to the Democratic Party and the Clinton Presidential Library.
After Clinton left the White House, the pardon was investigated by his Republican successor’s DOJ.
“And the reaction of the Clintons was very similar to Trump,” Maney said. “With the Clintons saying this was politically motivated even though, as I mentioned, there were Democrats—prominent Democrats—who criticized it.”
Some of the major players are still around. Rudy Giuliani was the chief prosecutor in Rich’s tax evasion case, and James Comey helped build a case against the financier.
