FBI Reportedly Finds No Illegal Actions by Tower

The FBI investigation of Defense Secretary-designate John Tower has uncovered no evidence implicating him in the Pentagon procurement scandal or in the receipt of illegal campaign contributions, but it has uncovered a “wealth of allegations about the guy’s personal conduct,” an informed source said Thursday.

The FBI report summarizing the bureau’s findings, described by officials as a summary of the most extensive background check of a Cabinet appointee in memory, is expected to be delivered to the White House on Monday.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) said Thursday that he plans to convene the committee by Wednesday and hopes to schedule a committee vote on the Tower nomination by the end of the week.

Tom Kirk, the FBI agent who is writing the report, declined to discuss its contents. He said “the overwhelming number of allegations are resolved as being unfounded,” but he added that the report will contain new information about Tower that has not been made public.

Another official said the volume of derogatory statements on Tower’s drinking habits and relations with women is so great that if Tower were seeking a job as an FBI agent rather than as defense secretary, he probably would not be hired.

Kirk said the FBI will not reach any conclusions in the summary.