Mrs. Clinton Against Offer of Clemency
First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday she opposes the release from prison of Puerto Rican nationalists offered clemency last month by her husband.
“When the administration first offered these prisoners clemency, I made it very clear that I had no involvement in or prior knowledge of the decision, as is entirely appropriate, and that the prisoners should not be released unless they renounced violence,” Mrs. Clinton said in a statement.
“It’s been three weeks and their silence speaks volumes,” the first lady added. “I believe the offer of clemency should be withdrawn.”
The Clintons have come under fire from Republican critics and some law enforcement officials who claimed the president’s clemency offer to 16 members of the Armed Forces of National Liberation was aimed at helping his wife’s political fortunes among New York’s 1.3 million Puerto Ricans.
There was no immediate comment Saturday from President Clinton.
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