Zoe Baird and the People's Choice

The consequences of the searing light of national scrutiny and judgment are that Ms. Baird will return to her $507,000-a-year corporate position as counsel for Aetna Life Insurance ably assisted by the income of her husband, a Yale University law professor.

They knowingly abused their legal expertise and responsibility not only by willfully employing poorly paid illegal aliens but by avoiding paying social security taxes. The Peruvian couple were vulnerable, and now they are to pay the price of Baird's flawed nomination: They are to be deported back to Peru.

I call upon President Clinton to stay the long arm of the law and, in an act of compassion, grant them special status until they can, with proper counsel in due course, qualify for immigration in the land of opportunity. Jane Cynthia Nielsen, Los Angeles

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