Clinton Defends Planned Trip on Behalf of Rep. Rostenkowski

President Clinton Friday defended his plan to make a campaign-style appearance in Chicago Monday on behalf of Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.), an important congressional ally who is under investigation by a federal grand jury.

The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee is facing his toughest reelection challenge, partly because of allegations that he improperly benefited by swapping stamps for cash at the House post office and charges that he misused office and campaign funds. He has denied wrongdoing.

And Clinton vigorously denied that his planned appearance with Rostenkowski amounted to White House meddling in the two-year-old inquiry being conducted by the U.S. attorney here. The President said that he would go to Chicago because Rostenkowski has a critical role in the health care legislation that the Administration wants enacted this year.

“There is still a presumption of innocence in this country,” Clinton told reporters. “He (Rostenkowski) has not yet been charged with anything.

“There is no way in the world we would do anything like that,” Clinton said of suggestions of White House interference. He noted that he had appeared with Rostenkowski on other occasions after the investigation had started but was not criticized for it.

Despite his 36 years in the House and his prominent role as the nation’s chief tax writer, Rostenkowski could be vulnerable in the five-way primary on March 15 because of the highly publicized inquiry into his financial affairs. At one point, he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to avoid testifying before a federal grand jury.

The Chicago lawmaker recently paid $82,095 to the House stationery store, acknowledging that some of the items he bought with office funds actually were “for personal use.” U.S. Atty. Eric H. Holder recently informed the House leadership that the investigation of Rostenkowski was now “in its final stages and will be concluded in the near future.”

Even so, sources close to the case do not believe that the grand jury will return an indictment before the primary. If Rostenkowski is indicted while still a member of Congress, House Democratic Caucus rules would require that he step down as chairman pending trial of the charges.

Clinton relied heavily on the 66-year-old lawmaker during last year’s congressional battle over the Administration’s economic program, which skimmed through both the House and Senate without a vote to spare.

The President said that he would make a joint appearance with another Chicago Democrat--Rep. Mel Reynolds--who also is facing primary opposition. Reynolds, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, supported Clinton on the controversial budget bill and the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Normally, presidents do not show their preference in intraparty primary fights.