-Caveat Lector-
Justice probes whether Congress was misled
By Jerry Seper
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The Justice Department has begun an investigation into
accusations that career department lawyer Lee J. Radek misled
Congress on whether he was "under a lot of pressure" to derail
the department's campaign finance investigation.
The inquiry, which also is expected to review Attorney
General Janet Reno's role in the campaign finance probe, was
confirmed yesterday in a letter from the Office of Professional
Responsibility to the Landmark Legal Foundation, a
public-interest law firm that sought the investigation in May.
Judith B. Wish, OPR's acting counsel, wrote that the inquiry
would center on Mr. Radek's statements to top FBI officials that
his office was "under pressure in its investigation into corrupt
campaign fund-raising practices during the 1996 election cycle
because the attorney general's job hung in the balance."
He later denied under oath ever making that statement.
In May, Mr. Radek testified before the Senate Judiciary
subcommittee on crime and the House Judiciary Committee that he
had "no recollection of ever saying" to FBI executives he was
under pressure in the campaign finance probe because Miss Reno's
job "hung in the balance."
He described the FBI statements as having "no basis in fact,"
adding that while the campaign finance probe was in a "pressure
cooker," the pressure he was referring to was to "do a good job,
to do it vigorously and do it well" because the department was
being scrutinized by Congress, the media and the attorney
general.
But former FBI Deputy Director William J. Esposito and FBI
Assistant Director Neil J. Gallagher testified that during a 1996
meeting they had heard Mr. Radek say Miss Reno could lose her job
if the investigation went forward.
Both said they were certain Mr. Radek was tying pressure he felt
concerning the probe to concerns that Miss Reno could lose her
job.
FBI Director Louis J. Freeh met with Miss Reno based on Mr.
Radek's comments, which had been relayed to him by Mr. Esposito.
According to a Dec. 9, 1996, memo, Mr. Freeh said he "advised the
attorney general of Lee Radek's comment to you that there was a
lot of pressure" on him and suggested "on that basis" she and Mr.
Radek step aside from the investigation.
Mr. Freeh also said the department's public integrity section,
headed by Mr. Radek, could not conduct a thorough probe and
suggested the matter be handled by the FBI.
Mark R. Levin, Landmark's president, said he asked for the probe
because "serious and substantial questions" were raised by the
Freeh memo and by FBI statements concerning Miss Reno and Mr.
Radek.
He said he questioned whether the Justice Department was seeking
to "circumvent the FBI's traditional role in investigating
allegations of federal campaign violations."
"I presume the department is looking at Miss Reno and Mr. Radek,
both of whom strongly objected to the appointment of an
independent counsel to investigate campaign finance abuses," said
Mr. Levin, former chief of staff to Attorney General Edwin Meese.
"We'll see what happens."
Justice Department spokesman Myron Marlin did not return calls
yesterday to his office for comment. But Miss Reno has said she
did not recall meeting with Mr. Freeh over concerns that pressure
was being put on the Justice Department with respect to the
campaign finance probe. Mr. Radek has said he did not remember
meeting with Mr. Esposito and Mr. Gallagher.
The Office of Professional Responsibility oversees inquiries into
accusations of criminal or ethical misconduct involving Justice
Department employees.
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Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF:
*Michael Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
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