18 years after acquittal, Donovan has some advice

0 Comments | USA TODAY, August, 2005 | by Jayne O'Donnell

It's been 18 years since former Labor secretary Raymond Donovan was acquitted of racketeering charges by a Bronx jury and exonerated by an independent counsel after five years of federal and criminal investigations. But the New Jersey construction company president who famously asked, "Which office do I go to, to get my reputation back?" says he's still not past the experience.

"I still have the inclination to grab people by the lapels and tell them that this happened, and it was wrong," says Donovan, 75.

But Donovan doesn't recommend that Mark Belnick, the acquitted former Tyco general counsel, do what he personally is tempted to do.

His advice: "Don't waste your time explaining yourself.

"You'll give more ammunition to the people who will never...