Burton Considers Contempt Citation For Reno

Attorney general refuses to hand over internal memos

Janet Reno

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, July 28) -- Attorney General Janet Reno is under fire for refusing to hand over two Justice Department memos that recommend the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate Democratic fund-raising practices.

Rep. Dan Burton, whose House Government Reform and Oversight Committee is also investigating fund-raising abuses in the 1996 Clinton/Gore campaign, has threatened to bring a contempt citation against Reno if she does not hand over the documents.

The outspoken Indiana Republican wants copies of a report by Charles LaBella, the departing head of the Justice campaign finance task force, and a November 1997 memo from FBI Director Louis Freeh. Both documents are said to recommend that Reno request an independent counsel to investigate the campaign finance controversy.

Burton said Monday he would discuss Reno's refusal to obey a congressional subpoena with members of his committee, possibly considering a contempt citation.

In a letter responding to Burton's request, the Justice department offered to meet with the committee to discuss a compromise.

Rep. Dan Burton

Assistant Attorney General L. Anthony Sutin offered "to discuss ways to accommodate the committee's information needs to the fullest extent that we can, consistent with our law enforcement responsibilities."

However, Justice spokesman Bert Brandenburg said Reno and Freeh "both agree strongly that they are opposed to releasing these documents."

"No prosecutor anywhere should have to hand out a road map to an investigation and reveal information that could tip off the guilty and smear the innocent," says Brandenburg.

Burton's committee had previously received a confidential briefings about Freeh's memo. That briefing headed off Burton's earlier threats to subpoena the Freeh memo.

But now Burton claims the Justice Department's explanation for refusing to hand over the documents is insincere because the subpoena asks that any secret grand jury information be removed before the documents are released. Burton claims he only wants the reasoning contained in the documents.

The chairmen of the Senate and House Judiciary committees, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill), respectively, asked Reno last Friday for copies of the LaBella memo.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tuesday, July 28, 1998

• Lewinsky Strikes Far-Reaching Immunity Deal
• Campaign-Finance Figure Returns To U.S.
• Herman Praises Tentative GM Settlement
• Burton Considers Contempt Citation For Reno
• Bipartisan Effort Underway To Create Secret Service Privilege