And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 13:33:08 EDT Subject: Babbitt Called Before Grand Jury Babbitt Called Before Grand Jury .c The Associated Press By H. JOSEF HEBERT WASHINGTON (AP) - Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt was called today before a grand jury in connection with the investigation into whether campaign funds influenced a decision in 1995 to reject an Indian casino in Wisconsin. The 14-month investigation by Independent Counsel Carol Elder Bruce reportedly was moving toward conclusion. It was Babbitt's first appearance before the grand jury. Interior Department spokesman Mike Gauldin said he could not comment on the case, referring questions to Babbitt's personal lawyer, Lloyd Cutler. Cutler could not immediately be reached. The special counsel is looking into whether promises of campaign contributions to the Democratic Party influenced the Interior Department decision in 1995 to reject a request by three Chippewa tribes to open a casino in Hudson, Wis. Other tribes opposing the casino later contributed nearly $300,000 to the Democratic National Committee. Babbitt has vigorously denied any connection between campaign contributions and the decision to reject the casino permit. But a longtime friend, Paul Eckstein, who was a lobbyist for the tribes seeking the casino, testified at congressional hearings that Babbitt alluded to Democratic campaign contributions and pressure from the White House during a meeting on the day the casino decision was made. Among the questions the special counsel is trying to answer is whether Babbitt lied before Congress when he described the events leading up to the casino decision. Babbitt has said Eckstein misunderstood the conversation and has denied misleading lawmakers. Bruce was believed to be wrapping up her investigation. The Minneapolis Star Tribune report today that Bruce anticipates completing the fact-gathering part of the investigation by mid-August. Bruce has asked the U.S. attorney in Madison, Wis., for an additional 60-day delay of a federal court suit involving the casino issue, so she could wrap up her own fact-finding, according to the newspaper. ``We are nearing the end of our factual investigation and are in the process of reviewing the facts and the law in order to reach a final conclusion as to whether any indictment(s) should be sought,'' Bruce wrote, according to the report. The U.S. attorney in Wisconsin represents the Interior Department in the lawsuit brought by the Indian tribes who had sought the casino permit. AP-NY-06-30-99 1332EDT Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press. Reprinted under the fair use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
