Bush Seizes New Federal Probe To Bash Gore

W A S H I N G T O N, Sept. 14 -- GOP presidential candidate George W. Bush pounced on the latest Justice Department investigation of the Clinton administration today, hoping to bolster his call for new blood in the Oval Office.

“Americans are tired of investigations and scandal,” Bush said, amid fresh reports that federal investigators are looking into whether the Democratic Party linked campaign donations to a presidential veto. “The best way to get rid of them is to elect a new president who will bring a new administration who will restore dignity and honor to the White House.”

At the center of the controversy are 5-year-old fund-raising “call sheets” that indicated party officials wanted Vice President Al Gore — who is now running for president on the Democratic ticket — to personally call a trial lawyer and solicit donations.

Justice Department investigators are trying to determine if the Democratic National Committee tried to raise money from attorney Don Umphrey, a DNC donor, by putting into play an expected veto by President Clinton of a Republican bill that set liability limits on lawsuits — a veto that Umphrey and other attorneys stood to benefit from.

A call sheet dated Dec. 13, 1995, that was sent to Donald L. Fowler, then national chairman of the DNC, suggested language that could be used in a call to the lawyer.

“Sorry you missed the Vice President,” the document says.“I know will give $100K when the President vetos Tort reform, butwe really need it now. Please send ASAP if possible.”

An earlier note shows Gore was asked to call Umphrey. But the vice president never did, according to an aide, and Fowler says he has no memory of the note and insists he would never allow the use of language linking fund-raising to a presidential veto.

Bush Back on Offense

Bush seized on the new allegations in an attempt to get his snake-bit campaign back on the offensive.

“I will restore the bond of trust between the president and all Americans,” the Texas governor told a meeting of the National Guard Association in California today. “Just today, there are new revelations about the potential misuse of the White House for fund-raising purposes. New evidence that my opponent may have crossed a serious line — solicitation of campaign contributions linked to a presidential veto. The appearance is really disturbing.”