Lead editorial NYT - Re: Reno's obstruction of Justice
July 23, 1998
The Firestorm Cometh
Charles Labella, who has been leading the Justice Department's
campaign finance investigation, has now advised Attorney General
Janet Reno that under both the mandatory and discretionary provisions of
the Independent Counsel Act she must appoint an outside prosecutor to
take over his inquiry. The other important figure of this investigation,
Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Louis Freeh, has already
recommended an independent counsel. Ms. Reno can give her usual
runaround about being hard-headed, but she cannot hide from the meaning
of this development.
The two people in the American Government who know most about this
case -- the lead prosecutor and the top investigator -- are convinced that
the trail of potentially illegal money leads so clearly toward the White
House that Ms. Reno cannot, under Federal law, be allowed to supervise
the investigation of her own boss. When it comes to campaign law, this is
the most serious moment since Watergate.
These are not the judgments of rebel subordinates or hot-headed junior
staff members. Freeh, a former Federal judge, has been if anything too
loyal to Ms. Reno during the nine long months that she has ignored his
advice. Labella was hand-picked by Ms. Reno on the basis of experience
and skill to run this investigation. Either she has to come forward and make
the impossible argument that they are incompetent or bow to the law's
requirements.
Ms. Reno may grumble about leaks of supposedly confidential advice. But
the fact is that the American people need to know that two top law
enforcement officers believe the Attorney General is derelict. Moreover,
Freeh and Labella are right to separate themselves from Ms. Reno,
because if her attempt to protect Presidential fund-raising from investigation
continues, it will go down as a black mark against Justice every bit as
historic as J. Edgar Hoover's privacy abuses. Firestorm is an overused
word in Congress, but if Ms. Reno does not make the appointment, the
Republican Senate leadership ought to ignite one -- today.
nytimes.com |
