Reno Frustrated Over Delayed Tapes Release

FBI Director Freeh wants an independent counsel, sources tell CNN

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Oct. 9) -- Attorney General Janet Reno said today she was angry over the Clinton Administration's delayed release of the White House coffee videotapes, but said there is still no legal justification yet for her to seek the appointment of an independent counsel.

"I was mad," Reno told reporters, when asked her reaction to the belated release of the videotapes. But Reno said she remains committed to doing the investigation properly and the key issue is whether there was a solicitation for funds during the White House coffees.

"Judging by the comments that I'm receiving -- and they're anecdotal -- people want it done right," Reno said. "They don't want it done based on polls, they don't want it done based on speculation, they don't want it done based on dribs and drabs. They want it done right, and we're going to try to get it done right."

Asked about the videotape controversy, Reno said, "When you have something like this, when you have a situation where the White House has recognized the responsibility to produce the documents, it is very, very frustrating to have them produced in such a delayed fashion. And I also thought that we should have been told immediately, as soon as they were found."

Reno, under fire for not seeking an independent counsel, said she continues to review all the information to see if anything in the probe could trigger such an appointment and if it does, "we will trigger it." (192K wav sound)

Asked if she felt left out of the loop by the White House, Reno said, "I believe we were not told in a timely fashion." She said she has not spoken to President Bill Clinton about the tapes, and he has not apologized to her for the tapes' delayed release.

Along with partisan criticism, Reno even faces dissension in her own ranks.

CNN has learned FBI Director Louis Freeh is frustrated about what he sees as bad advice Reno has gotten from career prosecutors about how to conduct the investigation.

Freeh continues to believe there should be an independent counsel to investigate campaign abuses in the last election, sources have told CNN.

More Senate hearings

In a related development, Sen. Orrin Hatch announced today the Senate Judiciary Committee plans hearing into whether Reno's Justice Department has mishandled its probe of the alleged campaign fund-raising abuses.

"I really believe there are some things here that have to be explained," Hatch, a Utah Republican and the panel's chairman, told The Associated Press. "We'll see what we can do to put one together."

Hatch said Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), who also serves on the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee that is conducting a campaign finance inquiry, asked for the oversight hearings.

In Other News:

Thursday Oct. 9, 1997

• Senators Focus On Alleged Teamsters Swap
• 'Straw Donors' Are First Witnesses In House Probe
• $8 Million Fine For Illegal Corporate Donations
• Reno Frustrated Over Delayed Tapes Release

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