FBI RESTRICTS WHITE HOUSE USE OF FILES.

Byline: Angie Cannon and Robert A. Rankin Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire

FBI Director Louis Freeh ordered tough measures Friday to protect sensitive FBI background files from White House misuse, and disclosed that the White House wrongly obtained 408 files, more than previously was known.

Citing ``egregious violations of privacy,'' Freeh said the FBI's intensive internal inquiry ``shows the FBI gave inadequate protection to the privacy interests of persons in the FBI files.''

``The prior system of providing files to the White House relied on good faith and honor,'' Freeh said in a statement. ``Unfortunately, the FBI and I were victimized. I promise the American people that it will not happen again on my watch.''

The 31-page report refers to the Clinton White House's request of sensitive background files that included some prominent Republicans from the Bush and Reagan administrations, as well as a request for the files of White House Travel Office employees, seven months after they had been fired.

``Among the unquestionably unjustified acquisitions were reports relating to discharged Travel Office employees Billy Ray Dale and Barnaby Brasseux,'' said the report, which was written by FBI General Counsel Howard M. Shapiro.

The White House announced its own steps Thursday to prevent the misuse of FBI files, and it reiterated that no one had improperly used the information in the files.

But the embarrassing matter is far from over for the Clinton administration. The FBI gave the results of its inquiry to independent counsel Kenneth Starr, who is investigating the Travel Office fiasco as part of a broad-ranging inquiry into the Whitewater affair.

More damaging publicity is expected early next week when the Republican-controlled Senate Whitewater Committee releases its report, which is expected to harshly criticize the Clinton administration.

The FBI files flap has become an issue in the 1996 presidential campaign, with Republicans comparing it to Richard Nixon's enemies list. Congress plans hearings next week. President Clinton this week apologized, saying it was an honest mistake that won't happen again.

The FBI report did not reach any conclusions ``about the motivations of any White House employee,'' noting that Starr asked that this inquiry be limited to the FBI's conduct and that no White House employees be interviewed.

Freeh also said the FBI research analysts who processed the White House requests should not be blamed.

Instead, Freeh accepted the blame himself, saying ``I was not vigilant enough.''

Freeh also said the FBI inquiry discovered that the White House has identified 408 files sought and received by the White House ``without justification.'' The White House voluntarily surrendered 333 files to the FBI on June 6.

Then, following ``a further query from the FBI,'' the White House turned over 71 more improperly sought files Thursday. And the White House identified four other files as having been sought without justification, the FBI said, for a total of 408. The report said the status of 17 other White House file requests is still to be determined.

The disclosures prompted Bob Dole, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, to tell supporters in Savannah, Georgia: ``Today, Freeh reported an egregious violation of policy. How far will this White House go? We need an investigation . . . to find out the truth.''

Freeh ordered the inquiry a week ago after learning that the White House had requested and received the background file of Dale, the former Travel Office director. Fired early in the Clinton administration amid allegations of wrongdoing, Dale later was acquitted of all charges.

Brasseux was one of five Travel Office employees who were given other federal jobs after the White House admitted the firings were improper.

The inquiry was expanded when it was learned that the White House had requested and received a large number of files on officials in the previous Republican administrations, including former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, former Bush press secretary Marlin Fitzwater and former Reagan press secretary James Brady.

``It appears that over time a tradition of considerable deference to the White House has developed,'' the FBI inquiry noted.

Freeh eliminated the longstanding system in which the White House requested FBI files by submitting a form that merely contained the typed-in name of the White House counsel, with no indication of who actually sought the information and who approved the request.

The new safeguards, which take effect immediately, include:

Requiring the White House to use a detailed request form containing the actual signatures of the official requesting the material and an attorney of the White House counsel's office approving the request.

Requiring White House officials to certify that the information is sought only for official purposes and give more-detailed reasons the material is needed.

Putting White House officials on strict notice that criminal sanctions are available for any violations of the law, including false statements or disclosures of information violating the Privacy Act.

Ensuring that high-level FBI officials will review the White House information requests instead of such requests being routinely filled by low-level personnel.

Requiring the FBI to see whether there are pending criminal investigations of any of the people whose files are being requested. If there is a pending criminal investigation, the dissemination of information will be halted and the matter will be referred to the deputy attorney general.