Congressional inquiries to DEA and DEA e-mails on Vice President Al Gore
10/28/2000
The following are two internal DEA
E-Mails regarding the March 12
visit of Vice President Al Gore to
Brookhollow Baptist Church in Houston, where Rap-A-Lot
Records entrepreneur James A. Prince was a member and major
financial supporter:
--Original Message-
From: Nims, James B. [a group supervisor at Houston DEA office]
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2000 1:10 PM
To: Howard, Ernest L. [Special Agent in Charge of Houston’s DEA
division office]
I’ve just been advised that when VP Al Gore was here in town
(Monday?) he spent some time over at the Brookhollow Baptist Church.
I understand that aside from the Rev. West, Mr. Smith was in attendance
as well. I wonder if the Congresswoman was there as well??? Have you
heard anything about that?? Regards, Jim
From: Howard, Ernest L.
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2000 2:40 PM
To: Nims, James B.
Subject: RE-FYI
No, the one from Calif. Was not there as far as I know, but yes James
was there Sunday with the VP at church. He undoubtedly had a picture
session as well.
The following is a three-page letter sent Friday from House
Government Reform Committee Chairman Dan Burton to
Attorney General Janet Reno.
Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Committee on Government Reform
2157 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515-6143
October 27, 2000
The Honorable Janet Reno
Attorney General
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20530
Dear General Reno,
Pursuant to Rules X and XI of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Government Reform is conducting an oversight
investigation relating to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s
investigation of James A. Prince, also known as James A. Smith, of
Houston, Texas. In July of this year, the committee requested a briefing
on the DEA investigation of Mr. Prince. Mr. Ernest Howard, the Special
Agent in Charge of the Houston Division, gave the briefing.
On July 17, 2000, the Committee was told by Mr. Howard that the
DEA’s investigation relating to Mr. Prince had never been closed, and
was an ongoing ``open’’ case. Mr. Howard’s briefing to this committee
provided reassurance that the Justice Department was acting
appropriately and the Committee took no subsequent investigative steps.
Earlier this month, however, news articles began appearing that
contradicted information given the Committee during the briefing. In
response to a letter request from this Committee, the DEA furnished
several e-mails from Mr. Howard, dated March 14, 2000, and March
15, 2000, that referred to the Prince investigation as being "closed." For
example, in a written communication between Mr. Howard and Mr. R.C.
Gamble, Howard stated:
But it is over now. The Houston division will terminate all
active investigation of Rap-A-Lot, except for those persons
who have already been arrested/indicted. If ANY
information
comes to the attention of the agents in the Houston Division
regarding Rap-A-Lot or James Smith, it will be vetted
through
Hqs prior to ANY action taken here.
It has become clear that this situation demands closer scrutiny by the
Congress. Accordingly, the Committee requests to interview the
following individuals:
Julio Mercado: HQ Executive Staff
R.C. Gamble: HQ Executive Staff
Felix Jimenez: HQ Executive Staff
Robert Joura: Houston Division Management Staff
James Nims: Houston Division Management Staff
Jack Schumacher: Houston Division Management Staff
Chad Scott: Houston Division Management Staff
In addition to the above-referenced personnel, the Committee
anticipates a need for a second interview of Ernest Howard, Special
Agent in Charge, Houston Division, as well as an interview with Donnie
Marshal, Administrator, DEA.
With regard to the Houston-based DEA agents, the Committee is
interested in obtaining answers to the following questions relating to
whether or not the DEA’s investigation of James A. Prince, aka James
A. Smith, was curtailed due to political interference:
1. Were you aware of the investigation involving James A.
Prince?
2. Did you participate in the investigation of James A.
Prince?
3. Which other DEA personnel were involved in the
investigation of James A. Prince?
4. During the period between August 1, 1999, and October
27, 2000, was your participation in the investigation of
Prince terminated or materially changed? If so, at what
date?
5. Are you aware of any Houston based DEA personnel,
between the time period of August 1, 1999, and October
27, 2000, that were transferred off of the Prince case? If
so, how many, and when were they transferred to other
duties?
6. Are you aware of any case activity relating to Prince after
March 15, 2000?
7. Were any leads developed or followed up on Prince
after March 15, 2000?
8. Were any DEA personnel assigned to the Prince
investigation after March 15, 2000? If so, which personnel?
9. Are you aware of any participation by the Houston
Police Department in the Prince matter?
10. Do you know whether any members of the Houston
Police Department were taken off the Prince investigation
during the time period beginning August 1, 1999, and
October 27, 2000?
11. Were you aware that Mr. Prince was promising a large
political contribution to the Gore campaign, DNC or any
other political committee?
As we discussed during the October 27, 2000, meeting with DEA
Special Agent Toni Teresi, chief, Congressional Affairs, and John
Tanner, Office of Legislative Affairs, Department of Justice, the
Committee does not intend to ask questions about the substance of any
particular investigation. Rather, the committee is interested in determining
whether the Justice Department curtailed a criminal investigation as a
result of political pressure. Given the variance between Mr. Howard’s
oral briefing to the Committee, and his written communications to
colleagues, it is imperative that the Committee obtain information from the
identified individuals.
The Committee requests that you facilitate interviews with the named
Houston based agents in order for them to answer the above specified
questions. The Commiteee hopes to complete these interviews, and an
interview of Mr. Howard, on Wednesday, November 1, 2000. In
addition, the Committee would like to complete its interviews with the
remaining supervisory employees by Friday, November 3, 2000. In that
the Justice Department made Mr. Howard available for an interview with
the Houston Chronicle newspaper on October 27, 2000, and that
Committee staff has already interviewed him once, I trust that there will
be no difficulty scheduling the requested interview with him.
Sincerely,
Dan Burton
Chairman
Cc: Hon. Henry Waxman
Ranking Minority Member
The following is an Oct. 19 letter from the House Government
Reform Committee chairman to DEA Administrator Donnie
Marshall on the committee’s intent to investigate the status of
DEA’s Houston case against James A. Prince and associates.
Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Committee on Government Reform
2157 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515-6143
October 19, 2000
The Honorable Donnie Marshall
Administrator
Drug Enforcement Administration
600-700 Army-Navy Drive
Arlington, VA 22202
Dear Administrator Marshall:
Pursuant to House Rules X and XI, the Committee on Government
Reform is conducting an oversight investigation into federal law
enforcement activities relating to the James A. Prince investigation in
Houston, Texas.
Pursuant to our conversation today, I am holding the Committee’s
subpoena in abeyance, pending the production of certain documents to
the Committee by October 25, 2000. I appreciate your willingness to
comply with this request by this date.
Please have your staff produce to the Committee all correspondence
from and to Ernest L. Howard, Special Agent in Charge of the Houston
Field Division, from February 1, 2000, until April 30, 2000, relating to
the investigation of Rap-A-Lot Records and James A. Prince, also
known as James A. Smith, including, but not limited to, written
documents, facsimiles, e-mail and any and all forms of electronic
transmissions.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, please feel free to
contact Marc Chretien, Senior Counsel, at (202) 225-5074.
Sincerely,
Dan Burton
Chairman
cc: Hon. Henry Waxman
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