Former Clinton Aide Accused Of Smuggling Needles Into Prison

WAP96042503-25APR96-WASHINGTON, D.C., USA: Former Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton Chief of Staff Betsy Wright testifies before the Senate White Water committee on Capitol Hill Thursday April 25. Wright complained about re... WAP96042503-25APR96-WASHINGTON, D.C., USA: Former Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton Chief of Staff Betsy Wright testifies before the Senate White Water committee on Capitol Hill Thursday April 25. Wright complained about repeated duplicate questioning by the committee. UPI sw/Ken Cedeno (Newscom TagID: upiphotos049134) [Photo via Newscom] MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Betsey Wright, chief of staff to Bill Clinton when he was Arkansas governor and deputy chief of his 1992 presidential campaign, has been accused of trying to smuggle 48 tattoo needles in a Doritos bag into a death row prison.

An Arkansas court issued a warrant for Wright’s arrest yesterday. She faces 51 felony counts of attempting to bring prohibited items into a prison. In addition to the needles, officers found a knife and box cutter, plus tweezers and another needle hidden inside a pen, among Wright’s things on a May 22 visit to the prison in Grady, Ark.

Wright, an advocate for prisoners, will turn herself in next week, her lawyer said.

According to court documents, Wright said she found the Doritos bag at the bottom of a vending machine at the prison and thought she was getting a free bag of chips.

“I guess you don’t get nothing free,” she reportedly told officers.

Wright coined the famous “bimbo eruption” phrase when dismissing accusations of Clinton’s alleged extramarital affairs. She is widely believed to be the inspiration for the Libby Holden character, played by Kathy Bates, in the movie Primary Colors.

Latest News
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: