
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 1, 1994                    TAG: 9406010007 
SECTION: FRONT                     PAGE: A14    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Short 
DATELINE: 940601                                 LENGTH:

HILLARY'S DEFENSE DOESN'T HOLD

{LEAD} Hillary Clinton's struggle with a conflict-of-interest issue was exacerbated by Don Tyson's recent letter to the editor extolling the virtues of Tyson Foods, Arkansas' largest employer.

Most laws don't require a motive to invoke conflict of interest. Rather, a public servant and his family are prohibited from engaging in defined acts. Many jurisdictions also prohibit the mere appearance of conflict. Such a law was in Arkansas statuts during the Clinton terms.

{REST} Many have been hurt by Department of Defense investigations in which wiretaps were used to catch people compromising their positions. Some were prosecuted and others lost jobs over issues far smaller than a $100,000 profit earned with the help of a corporate agent. Illegal acts include accepting cups of coffee, exchanging Christmas gifts with old friends employed by defense contractors and failing to report an improper offer even though rejected.

Mrs. Clinton and White House staffers say the investment assistance given her by a Tyson agent was OK because he was an old friend. That excuse would fail in court for a Department of Defense employee or military person.

C. C. DRENKARD

Virginia Beach, May 18, 1994 by CNB