California Gov. Jerry Brown gave Hillary Clinton his endorsement for president over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders Tuesday, but Brown’s past relationship with the Clintons became ugly in 1992, when Brown and Bill Clinton ran against one another in the Democratic presidential primary.
During a debate in Detroit, Brown, citing a Washington Post article, accused then-Arkansas Gov. Clinton of funneling thousands of dollars of state business to Hillary’s law practice, the Rose Law firm.
Clinton angrily hit back saying Brown could not be taken “seriously” and is not “worthy of being on the same platform as my wife.”
Debate moderator, Detroit TV anchor Bill Bonds, set off the conflict when he asked Brown if he believed Gov. Clinton would have an electability issue in the general campaign.
“I think he has a big electability problem…you can find it on the front of the Washington Post, today. He is funneling money to his wife’s law firm for state business. That’s number one,” Brown said of Clinton. “Number two, his wife’s law firm is representing clients before the state of Arkansas agencies—his appointees. And one of — key is the poultry industry, which his wife’s law firm represents.”
Hillary’s law firm represented Stephens Inc., one of the largest Wall Street investment banking houses, and Tyson Foods Inc.
Rose attorneys, according to Politico, also lobbied the Arkansas state legislature on behalf of New York’s First Union Real Estate Equity & Mortgage Investments, Pittsburgh’s Reynolds Metal Co. and Arkansas Gas Consumers. Additionally, Rose began to represent the Clinton Foundation in 2001.
“If you read the local Chicago Tribune,” Brown said, ‘There’s 270 miles of Arkansas Rivers that are polluted with fecal coliform bacteria and are unsafe for humans or fish.”
He added, “So it’s not only corruption, it’s an environmental disaster and it’s the kind of conflict of interest that is incompatible with the kind of public servant we expect from a president of the United States.”
Clinton replied, “I feel sorry for Jerry Brown. I served with him as governor in the late 70’s. He asked me to support him as president once.”
Bonds asked Clinton if he endorsed Brown at the time.
“Of course not,” he said. “He re-invents himself every year or two. In 1990, he was pleading with the courts in California not to impose any limits on contributions. His law firm took $178,000 of taxpayers’ money—taxpayers’ money to beat a contribution limit initiative in 1990. So I don’t think you can take much of what he says seriously.”
Bonds asked Clinton, “This guy just accused you of having somebody funnel legal fees to your wife and the poultry and whatever all that…is that true or isn’t it?”
Brown shot back, “Bill, you’re always trying to attack. You never answer the question.”
Both men angrily pointed at each other from their podiums during their remarks and loudly spoke over one another at this moment.
“Let me tell you something, Jerry. I don’t care what you say about me. I knew when Pat Caddell told me what you’re gonna say—that you were gonna re-invent yourself and gonna be somebody else’s mouthpiece,” Clinton said. “You would say anything, but you ought to be ashamed of yourself for jumping on my wife. You’re not worthy of being on the same platform as my wife.”
Brown hit back, “I’ll tell you something, Mr. Clinton. Don’t try to escape it. Ralph Nader called me this afternoon. He read me the article from The Washington Post.”
Clinton rhetorically responded, “Does that make it true?
Brown snapped, “I was shocked by it. I was shocked by it, because I don’t think someone in government should be funneling money to his wife’s law firm.”
Clinton replied, “Jerry comes here with his family wealth and his $1500 suit and makes a lying accusation about my wife. I never. I never…”
Brown insisted, “It was in The Washington Post.”
“That doesn’t make it true,” Clinton re-iterated.
“Are you saying they lied?” Brown asked.
“I’m saying I never funneled any money to my wife’s law firm. Never, never,” said Clinton, whose denial sounded similar to his future 1998 response to the Monica Lewinsky affair.
It appears the Clintons and Gov. Brown have now moved past their tension.
Brown’s endorsement of Hillary Clinton did include a nod to her primary opponent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“I have closely watched the primaries and am deeply impressed with how well Bernie Sanders has done. He has driven home the message that the top one percent has unfairly captured way too much of America’s wealth, leaving the majority of people far behind. In 1992, I attempted a similar campaign,” said Brown in a statement.
The California primary is scheduled for June 7.
