GOP SENATORS REQUEST COUNSEL TO REVIEW CAMPAIGN FINANCING.Byline: David Hess Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire Senate Republicans on Thursday formally requested appointment of an independent counsel to probe alleged campaign-financing violations in last year's presidential elections, starting the clock on a process that could lead to a criminal inquiry. In a letter to Attorney General Janet Reno Janet Reno (born July 21, 1938) was the first and to date only female Attorney General of the United States (1993–2001). She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11. signed by the 10 GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee The U.S. Senate established the Committee on the Judiciary on December 10, 1816, as one of the original 11 standing committees. It is also one of the most powerful committees in Congress; among its wide range of jurisdictions is investigation of federal judicial nominees and oversight of , the Republicans said the possible implication of high-ranking administration officials - perhaps including both President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore Noun 1. Al Gore - Vice President of the United States under Bill Clinton (born in 1948) Albert Gore Jr., Gore - warranted the services of an investigator independent of the Justice Department. ``A thorough Justice Department investigation into possible fund-raising fund-raising, large-scale soliciting of voluntary contributions, especially in the United States. Fund-raising is widely undertaken by charitable organizations, educational institutions, and political groups to acquire sufficient funds to support their activities. violations in connection with the 1996 presidential campaign will raise an inherent conflict of interest,'' the letter stated, ``and the appointment of an independent counsel is therefore required to ensure public confidence in the integrity of our electoral process and system of justice.'' Among issues that should be examined, the Republicans said, was whether foreign contributions to the president's campaign were meant to influence administration policy and whether White House officials illegally solicited campaign money using government space and property. Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch Orrin Grant Hatch (born March 22, 1934) is a Republican United States Senator from Utah, serving since 1977. Hatch is a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, where he serves on the subcommittees on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure and Taxation and IRS , R-Utah, said he had tried to secure bipartisan support for the letter to Reno, but was unable to agree on wording with the panel's Democrats. Hatch maintained that evidence of questionable fund-raising activities by a wide range of White House officials, in collaboration with operatives of the Democratic National Committee, ``called for appointment of an independent counsel.'' The Utah conservative insisted that an independent investigator independent investigator Independent research investigator NIHspeak A well-established scientist whose research accomplishments have resulted in the bestowal of "tenure", ie, long-term commitment of salary, personnel and research resources would assure ``these very serious allegations are investigated in a fair and thorough way, and without any real or apparent conflict of interest.'' Reno already had begun an investigation, employing some 25 FBI agents and lawyers in the department's Public Integrity Section, of suspect fund-raising practices. She has resisted informal congressional requests that she turn over the inquiry to a special counsel, insisting that her own investigators can be relied upon to carry on a vigorous and impartial Favoring neither; disinterested; treating all alike; unbiased; equitable, fair, and just. inquiry. The Judiciary judiciary Branch of government in which judicial power is vested. The principal work of any judiciary is the adjudication of disputes or controversies. Regulations govern what parties are allowed before a judicial assembly, or court, what evidence will be admitted, what Committee's seven Democrats, in a separate letter to Reno, charged that the Republican letter ``appears to us to be a political document that strings together a series of negative inferences, unanswered questions and damning conclusions.'' The Democrats insisted that, if Reno decides to conduct a preliminary inquiry as a prelude prelude (prā`l  d), musical composition of no universal style, usually for the keyboard. It was originally used to precede a ceremony and later a second, often larger piece. to the request for appointment of an independent counsel, that she also ask for a probe any Republican violations during the election campaign. ``Revelations in the press have been rampant about Republican campaign fund-raising improprieties, including soliciting contributions on federal property,'' the Democrats wrote. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion