Having friends in high places

Joe’s pick got clemency for donor’s son

Xavier Becerra, President-elect Joe Biden’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, played a key role in helping secure clemency for a convicted drug trafficker after the felon’s father donated to the thencongressman’s campaigns, according to a report Tuesday

Wealthy businessman Horacio Vignali approached Becerra and several other California politicians, seeking their help in getting an eleventh-hour action from President Bill Clinton for his son, Carlos Vignali, who was serving a 15-year sentence for cocaine trafficking, Fox News reported.

Clinton on the final day of his administration in January 2001 commuted Carlos Vignali’s sentence.

Carlos had served six years.

“Congressman Becerra conceded that the Vignalis were not members of his constituency but that Horacio had been a friend and contributor of his for five years,” a 2002 House report that examined clemency petitions during the Clinton administration said.

Horacio Vignali had contributed at least $11,000 to Becerra’s political action committee between 1998 and 2001, $2,475 to his congressional campaigns, and $3,500 toward his subsequent failed bid for Los Angeles mayor, the report said.

Becerra, now California’s attorney general, also called a pardon attorney to discuss the case and reached out to then-US Attorney Alejandro Mayorkas to look into it.

Mayorkas, Biden’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, called him back to say the conviction was justified but that the sentence was too harsh, the House report said.

Becerra then sent a letter to the White House in support of Carlos Vignali, asking “if justice has been achieved” in the case.

“In the interest of redeeming the life of a young man, I respectfully urge you to weigh a few factors in Mr. Vignali’s favor,” the letter continued.

After clemency had been granted, Becerra stood by his decision to help the Vignalis, saying he never specifically asked Clinton to take action despite writing the letter and calling the White House on Jan. 19, 2001, the House report said.

Mayorkas regretted becoming involved.

The Biden transition team didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

COKEY DOKIE: Xavier Becerra (top), addressing a news conference Tuesday as President-elect Joe Biden’s healthsecretary pick, once helped a campaign donor secure a commutation for his own coke-trafficking son from Bill Clinton.