WASHINGTON – Hillary Clinton isn’t on trial in Los Angeles on Tuesday – but as far as her political adversaries are concerned, she may as well be.
Her ex-finance director David Rosen has been charged with concealing the real cost of a star-studded Hollywood fund-raiser for Clinton in August 2000 – and if he’s convicted, her enemies plan to exploit it to the maximum.
“If it was any other senator, it might not be an issue, but with her past it will be,” said Brian Nick, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “She clearly has her eyes set on the White House [in 2008] … so it’s going to be an issue between now and then.”
Sensitive to whispers Rosen’s prosecution may be politically motivated, the feds say Clinton has not been implicated in any wrongdoing and will not be an issue in the trial.
“We’re certainly not calling her as a witness and it might be a mistake for the defense to do that – but that’s up to them,” said a Justice Department source.
Clinton is standing by Rosen and thinks he is innocent. “We believe that when all the facts are in, [Rosen] will be cleared,” Clinton lawyer David Kendall said on behalf of the senator.
Still, if Rosen is convicted, Clinton (D-N.Y.) is certain to face repeated attack ads accusing her of running a corrupt campaign and reminding voters of the 1996 investigation into Lincoln Bedroom sleepovers and White House coffees to raise political cash, GOP operatives promised.
Even Democratic political operatives fear a Rosen conviction could lure a strong Republican candidate into Clinton’s reelection race next year. “This could be an issue that has traction,” said a top Democrat who works closely with the Clinton campaign.
If convicted, Rosen, 40, could get 15 years in prison on three counts of filing false campaign documents. He allegedly cooked the books to free up more money when he reported that the $1.2 million gala cost only $400,000.
In a truly bizarre twist, a member of the Kennedy clan is the government snitch. Ted Kennedy brother-in-law Ray Reggie wore an FBI wire and taped a conversation with Rosen at a state dinner in 2000.
The brother of Kennedy’s wife, Victoria, and son of a prominent Louisiana judge, Reggie also raised money for Clinton and contributed to her Senate campaign. He allegedly discussed the Hollywood gala with Rosen while working for the FBI.
Among the potential witnesses is longtime Clinton political adviser Harold Ickes, who headed her campaign. The FBI’s lead investigating agent, a Federal Elections Commission expert and others close to the campaign also are expected to testify, according to sources familiar with both the prosecution and defense.
“We don’t have any surprises up our sleeves, but you never know what the defense is going to do,” a government source said.
An unlikely witness is convicted felon Peter Paul, who claims he wrote checks to help pay for the Hollywood soiree that featured Paul Anka, Michael Bolton, Toni Braxton, Cher, Melissa Etheridge, Patti LaBelle, Brian McKnight, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Luther Vandross, among others.
Paul now is among the chorus of Hillary-bashers raising money to unseat her, and sources say the defense would have a field day knocking down his credibility if he takes the witness stand.