Tucker Pleads Innocent to 2nd Round of Whitewater Charges

Gov. Jim Guy Tucker pleaded innocent Monday to a second round of federal charges stemming from the Whitewater investigation.

“Your Honor, I plead not guilty to each and every count in the indictment,” Tucker told U.S. Magistrate Jerry Cavaneau.

Tucker was named along with former savings and loan owner James B. McDougal and McDougal’s former wife, Susan McDougal, in a 21-count fraud and conspiracy indictment handed up Aug. 17 by the special Whitewater federal grand jury. Tucker was named in 11 counts.

They are accused of lying about the real purposes of $3 million in federally backed loans and using some of the money for themselves.

The McDougals, who were President Clinton’s partners in the failed Whitewater land development in the Ozarks, were to be arraigned later this week.

Cavaneau set an Oct. 10 trial date, though lawyers for both sides acknowledged that was tentative. The magistrate said the trial probably would last four to six weeks. Brad Lerman of the Whitewater special counsel’s office said that estimate “could be optimistic, actually.”

The same special grand jury indicted Tucker in June on charges he lied about a loan and tried to avoid taxes. He pleaded innocent to those charges too.

Tucker said Monday that he would not consider a plea bargain in either indictment.

“I’m not going to plead guilty to something that I’m innocent of. I have done nothing wrong. I’ve committed no crime. I’ve not conspired with anybody,” he said.

Tucker has repeatedly contended that his prosecution by Whitewater special counsel Kenneth W. Starr is a political vendetta. Tucker is a Democrat; Starr is a Republican.

The governor is challenging Starr’s authority to prosecute him. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 5 on that challenge, as it applies to the June indictment. Tucker said Monday that his attorneys would decide whether to extend the same challenge to the second indictment.