The mandate of the committee was to investigate the fund raising techniques used by the White House, but to obtain more funds for the committee, the mandate was expanded to include investigating all illegal fund raising activities of the White House and the Congress. The revised mandate had more to do with a lack of leadership than with any desire by members of Congress to investigate themselves. Such broad rules of inquiry applied by the party that controlled both houses of Congress virtually ensured that this round of Clinton scandals would pass with as few consequences or long term concern as the scandals of the first Clinton administration received.
Despite the Congressional inquiries, the dirty deeds continued to go unpunished. Mr. Clinton praised and defended labor unions who had close alliances with organized crime. He ended a Justice Department investigation of the activities of one labor union because its president was among the most important contributors to the Clinton election campaign. Count that as strike two against the DNC. Then came the allegation that Mr. Clinton entertained known illegal drugs dealers at the White House.
Jorge Cabrara was not exactly your standard drug kingpin. He dealt in the serious cash and the serious drugs. He shared part of that cash (USD20,000 to be exact) with the DNC in exchange for an opportunity to be photograpahed with Mrs. Clinton at a White House Christmas party. He attended the party as a special friend and guest of Mr. Clinton. The Secret Service was reportedly instructed to produce a clean record for Mr. Cabrara to allow him access to the White House.
As to his drug running activities, Mr. Cabrara had been charged but had not been captured. Word of the DNC link got to federal authorities through some of Cabrara's "mules" who were captured. Mr. Cabrara's presence seemed to substantiate the rampant rumors of drug use in the White HOuse. Count that as strike three against the DNC.
The DNC itself got caught in its act of hide and seek with legality. Political parties are required to submit regular reports of their campaign expenditure. The DNC "forgot" to file the report; this violation of campaign finance laws had not occurred for more than two decades. The Republican National Committee filed suit to obtain the report; the DNC covered itself with the trite "It was a bureaucratic error" explanation. High ethical standards? Not exactly. Count that as strike four against the DNC.
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