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Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 15:00:01 EDT
Subject: Evidence Lacking To Indict Babbitt
Evidence Lacking To Indict Babbitt
.c The Associated Press
By H. JOSEF HEBERT
WASHINGTON (AP) - A special prosecutor has concluded there is insufficient evidence to
indict Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt or anyone else in connection with a federal
Indian casino investigation.
The prosecutor's office said in a statement today that the evidence uncovered in the
19-month investigation ``would not support a finding'' that Babbitt committee perjury
or any other criminal act.
Special Prosecutor Carol Elder Bruce was to file a report on her investigation with a
three-judge federal panel, probably in the coming weeks, closing the case, sources
said.
``Ms. Bruce is declining prosecution and will not seek an indictment of Secretary
Babbitt or anyone else,'' said the prosecutor's statement. It said the investigation
included 450 witnesses and 630,000 pages of documents.
The case involved allegations that Babbitt had lied to Congress in his explanation as
to why the Interior Department in 1995 rejected a permit for a proposed casino by
three Wisconsin Indian tribes. Supporters of the casino charged that the decision was
influence by promises of campaign contributions to the Democratic Party by rival
tribes opposed to the permit.
The prosecutor's office said its investigation found no evidence to ``support a
finding of a criminal quid pro quo'' and that perjury allegations against Babbitt,
involving his congressional testimony, could not be proven.
Babbitt issued a statement saying he was ``gratified that the grand jury and
independent counsel have determined after an exhaustive ... investigation that no
charges are justified in this matter.''
``That is not surprising,'' said Babbitt.
Attorney General Janet Reno asked in February 1998 that a special prosecutor
investigate the casino issue and Babbitt's congressional testimony. A month later,
Bruce, a 10-year veteran of the U.S. attorney's office in Washington, was given the
case by a three-judge panel.
The case was one of five independent counsel investigations of Clinton administration
Cabinet officers in addition to Kenneth Starr's investigation of the president. One
investigation involving Labor Secretary Alexis Herman remains unresolved.
Bruce sought to determine whether a request by three Chippewa tribes to open a casino
in Hudson, Wis., was denied because of pressure from the White House after rival
Indian tribes offered campaign contributions to the Democratic Party. The rival tribes
eventually gave more than $300,000 to the party.
Babbitt, who testified for two days before the Bruce grand jury, denied there was any
connection between campaign contributions and the casino decision. He also has denied
intending to mislead senators during a hearing in late 1998 investigating the casino
deal.
AP-NY-10-13-99 1459EDT
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.
