Susan McDougal, convicted of fraud in the Whitewater trial, asked a judge Friday to dismiss the indictment that led to her conviction.
McDougal, convicted of fraud, misapplication of funds and other charges for illegally benefiting from a $300,000 loan made in 1986, argued that the nine-year gap between the indictment and the business transactions involved was unfairly long.Convicted at the same trial were her ex-husband, James, on 18 counts, and Gov. Jim Guy Tucker on two counts.
The McDougals were partners with the Clintons in the Whitewater land development in northern Arkansas from 1978 to 1992.
Susan McDougal's motion cited gaps in the memories of witnesses who testified, including not remembering when she and her husband separated.
A federal public defender's affidavit attached to the motion cited 11 instances in which people and businesses that worked for Susan McDougal's company had discarded needed records and tapes because they were old.
A similar motion was filed before the trial, but Judge George Howard Jr. of U.S. District Court decided to wait for the outcome of the trial and kept the matter under advisement.