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SANTA CLARITA : McKeon Denounces Reno’s Firings

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Rep. Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) and other GOP freshmen lawmakers held a news conference in Washington on Thursday to denounce Atty. Gen. Janet Reno as engaging in “partisan politics” for demanding the prompt resignation of all U.S. attorneys.

McKeon, who is Republican freshman class president in the House, criticized Reno for firing all Bush Administration appointees without naming their successors. While prosecutors are routinely replaced after a change in administrations, Reno’s order Tuesday accelerated what had been expected to be a more gradual transition by the Clinton Administration.

McKeon pointed particularly to the firing of Jay B. Stephens--the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, who was conducting a lengthy investigation into improper use of the House post office by Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.)--as “a blatant abuse of power which sends the wrong message to the American people.” Rostenkowski, who is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and an important Clinton ally, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

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Reno has denied any link between her action and the Rostenkowski case.

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