Reno Rules Against Gore Probe
— -- Attorney General Janet Reno says she will not name a special prosecutor to investigate the 1996 fund-raising activities of Vice President Al Gore.
By Carter M. Yang
ABCNEWS.comWASHINGTON, Aug. 23—
Attorney General Janet Reno has decided against naming a special prosecutor to investigate Vice President Al Gore’s 1996 campaign fund-raising.
Rejecting advice from the chief of the Justice Department’s campaign finance task force, Reno declared today that “no criminal investigation is warranted” with regard to Gore’s fund-raising.
“Because further investigation is not likely to result in a prosecutable case,” Reno told reporters this morning, “I have concluded that a special counsel is not warranted.”
Robert Conrad Jr., the supervising attorney heading up the department’s probe, recommended to the attorney general in June that a special prosecutor be appointed to investigate whether or not the vice president made false statements under oath. Conrad concluded that Gore was less than truthful in an April 18 interview on his role in allegedly improper campaign finance practices. Reno announced today that she did not reach the same conclusion.
“I’ve carefully reviewed the transcripts of the vice president’s interview,” she said. “The transcript reflects neither false statements, nor perjury, each of which requires proof of a willfully false statement about a material matter.”
The Gore presidential campaign was understandably delighted at the decision.
“It’s good news,” said spokesman Douglas Hattaway. “We’re pleased the matter has been fully resolved. Al Gore is focused on the future.”
But his Republican opponent, George W. Bush, said the entire episode was just another reminder that the White House needs to be aired out.