Time: Thu Dec 04 05:17:25 1997 To: From: Paul Andrew Mitchell [address in tool bar] Subject: SLS: Rep. Burton on Reno's statement (fwd) Cc: Bcc: sls References: <snip> > >STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN DAN BURTON ON AG'S DECISION ON INDEPENDENT COUNSEL > >U.S. House Government Reform and Oversight Committee >December 2, 1997 For Immediate Release CHAIRMAN DAN BURTON > >Government Reform and Oversight Committee > >NEWS RELEASE > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >December 2, 1997 For Immediate Release > >Contact: Ashley Williams 202-225-5074 > >STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN DAN BURTON ON AG'S DECISION ON INDEPENDENT COUNSEL > >Indianapolis, IN --- Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN), Chairman of the >House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, issued a stern response >to Attorney General Janet Reno's decision not to seek an independent >counsel in the illegal foreign fundraising controversy swirling around >the White House and the Democratic National Committee. Chairman Burton >announced that he will ask both Attorney General Reno and FBI Director >Louis Freeh to testify before his committee next week. > >It has been widely reported that Freeh has weighed in vigorously within >the Justice Department in support of an independent counsel. He >reportedly sent Reno a lengthy memo over a week ago advocating an >appointment of an independent counsel because of conflicts of interest >within the Justice Department. > >"Once again, the Attorney General had the opportunity to do the right >thing. Once again, she has failed. I am absolutely flabbergasted. > >"The American people have no confidence in this Justice Department to >conduct an impartial investigation of the President and his closest >advisors. The Attorney General serves at the pleasure of the President. >She can not do a credible job investigating her boss, his top aides, and >his top fundraisers. This investigation must be conducted by an >independent counsel, who has no axe to grind, or the public will always >remain suspicious of the results. > >"The Independent Counsel Act specifically authorizes the Attorney >General to seek an independent counsel when the Justice Department has a >personal, financial, or political conflict of interest.' It should be >obvious to anyone that Janet Reno has a serious conflict of interest in >investigating the Clinton White House. The Attorney General has >disregarded the good advice given to her by FBI Director Freeh. She has >focused on a very narrow and shallow issue and ignored the larger >conflicts of interest that have plagued this Justice Department >investigation. > >"In 1986, when the Iran-Contra story was breaking, Attorney General Ed >Meese sought the appointment of an independent counsel within a month. >At the time, Meese said that this was in the public interest.' President >Reagan publicly called on him to do so. It has been fourteen months >since this foreign fundraising scandal became public, and the Attorney >General is still resisting appointing an independent counsel. President >Clinton's silence speaks volumes about his position. > >During her confirmation hearings in 1993, Reno said, "The reason that I >support the concept of an independent counsel with statutory >independence is that there is an inherent conflict whenever senior >Executive Branch officials are to be investigated by the Department and >its appointed head, the Attorney General." > >Burton said, "In 1993, Janet Reno said that an independent counsel was >necessary to investigate high-level officials. Now she has reversed >herself. It makes it appear as though she is protecting the President." > >"The Justice Department task force has moved very slowly. After more >than a year, the Justice Department has few accomplishments to point to. >We have received reports that they have not even attempted to interview >John Huang, and he is one of the central figures in this scandal. > >"The question is -- will the American people have confidence that no >cover-up is going on? As a result of today's announcement, the answer >remains no.' > >Following the Attorney General's announcement, Chairman Burton faxed >letters to both Attorney General C and Director Freeh seeking their >testimony before the Government Reform and Oversight Committee next >week, Tuesday, December 9. > >### > >http://www.house.gov/reform/ > <snip>
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