Torch Passed
Bush at Year One.

ByNR Editors
From “The Week,” January 28, 2002, issue, of National Review

n an excess of delicacy, the Bush administration allowed Clinton holdover Mary Jo White to remain as U.S. attorney for the southern district of New York so that she could complete her investigation of funny "gifts" to Sen. Robert Torricelli, the New Jersey Democrat. Never mind that White had inexplicably dropped cases against corrupt union officials in her drawn-out Teamsters investigation. White finally resigned on the day after she announced that no charges would be brought against Torricelli. Now the case rests with the Senate Ethics Committee, which has much to ponder. According to the New York Times, New Jersey businessman David Chang, who admitted to making $53,700 in illegal contributions to Torricelli's 1996 campaign, also claimed that he gave "gifts" of cash and clothes that were never disclosed by the senator, as required by law. In addition, South Korea's former finance minister contradicts Torricelli's claim that he didn't intercede with officials in Seoul on behalf of a Chang business venture. Attorney general John Ashcroft recused himself from the case because Torricelli headed the Democrats' election committee when Ashcroft sought reelection in Missouri. Will Democratic senator Harry Reid, who contributed to Torricelli's defense fund but chairs the Ethics Committee, follow his example? And will senators who endlessly proclaim the need to reform campaign-finance laws show enthusiasm for enforcing current prohibitions?