-Caveat Lector- Reno Readies New Prosecutor Rules By KAREN GULLO .c The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - With the independent counsel law about to expire, Attorney General Janet Reno said the Justice Department is ready to take over the job of appointing special prosecutors to investigate misconduct by high government officials. Reno said the department is putting finishing touches on new rules it will follow in naming special investigators. ``Our regulations will be ready by July 1,'' she said Thursday at her weekly news briefing. The law that spawned Kenneth Starr's investigation of President Clinton and 20 other probes of high-level officials will expire June 30. A few lawmakers are drafting legislation to revive the law, but most believe the statute will be allowed to die. One key Senate Republican has urged Congress to seize some authority over the naming of special prosecutors by making Justice Department rules for their appointment, conduct and removal subject to the approval of Congress and the president. The department does not now need congressional approval to change its regulations. Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, said Tuesday that he plans to introduce the legislation in the next week or two. When asked to comment on the proposal, Reno said she wanted to work with Thompson and other lawmakers ``to address the concerns that have been raised,'' but asserted that appointing and removing special prosecutors should be left to the attorney general alone. ``The attorney general gets held responsible for it one way or another,'' she said. Under the expiring law, independent counsels are appointed by a judicial panel after the attorney general determines that the law has been triggered. New rules crafted by the Justice Department say the attorney general would appoint a special prosecutor when he or she determines that the investigation of a top government official presents a conflict of interest for the department. According to an outline of the new regulations submitted to a House subcommittee, the prosecutor would be subject to budgetary and investigative limitations that do not exist under the independent counsel law, including the following: An annual budget would be submitted for the attorney general's approval. A progress report would be required at the end of the first year. Some indictments might need the approval of the attorney general. The investigation would be limited to the issue that led to the appointment. Under the expiring independent counsel law, prosecutors had broad powers and no limits on how much they could spend. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
