Battalino Crusades for Career Repair -- 03/16/1999

Battalino Crusades for Career Repair

16 March, 1999

By Ben Anderson
CNS Staff Writer

(CNS) – Challenged with caring for an aging parent and the loss of her licenses to practice law and medicine, Barbara Ann Battalino is on a crusade to repair damages caused by her conviction of perjury and obstruction of justice for lying about sex in a civil deposition.

Battalino, a former lawyer and Veterans Administration doctor, was sentenced to six months house arrest and six months probation after a plea-bargain with Justice Department prosecutors. As a convicted felon, she lost her law and medical licenses. Battalino said the prosecutor, whom she alleges was later released by the Justice Department, pressured her into a plea-bargain agreement. Such arrangements are not subject to appeal.

Battalino asserts her perjury and obstruction of justice case mirrors that of President Bill Clinton, who was impeached by the House of Representatives. It was before the House Judiciary Committee that Battalino testified about the consequences of violating the rule of law even when the investigation is focused on an individual's personal life. Clinton's defense team would later argue before the Senate impeachment trial that perjury and obstruction of justice do not "rise to the level" of removing the President from his job.

Faced with caring for her 84-year old mother, Battalino said she has no means of earning a living. Therefore she has appealed to Clinton for a pardon, but has heard no response from the White House.

Battalino is also looking for help through a little-known legislative measure called a "private bill," a piece of legislation which typically pertains to relief for an individual who has encountered a unique hardship.

In the earlier days of Congress, private bills were a popular way for politicians to trade and gain favors for building and naming bridges for their political associates. House and Senate Rules were later tightened when private bills became a source of abuse and today, only a few private bills are usually introduced during each session. But the rules are loose in terms of allowing any two Members to object to a private bill, a motion which could stop a bill in its tracks.

Since the Senate lacked enough votes to remove President Clinton from office, Battalino said she would like some consideration of her own unique circumstances and is seeking a private bill to reduce her felony conviction to a misdemeanor. Such a move, she believes, will allow her to regain her medical license and California bar status. In her own words, Battalino wants to "get on with my life."

Seeking support for such a bill, Battalino wrote to both of her California Democrat Senators, Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein, both of whom voted against removing Clinton from office. While Boxer has yet to reply, Feinstein rejected Battalino's request. "As a United States Senator, it would be inappropriate for me to take part in, or comment on, a legal case in any way," Feinstein wrote. "This policy preserves the traditional and important separation of powers between the Judicial and Legislative branches of our Government."

Meanwhile, Battalino is still seeking a pardon from President Clinton.

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