Reno OKs Faster Access to Death Report on Foster : Information: Ruling covers any records tied to government integrity or high news interest. But the records on the lawyer’s suicide remain unreleased.

Criticized for withholding documents about a White House lawyer’s suicide, Atty. Gen. Janet Reno authorized expedited release Thursday of records that bear on the government’s integrity and have high news interest.

But the Park Police and FBI reports on attorney Vincent Foster’s death still were not released, and Justice Department spokesman Carl Stern said he had no way to predict when they would be.

Before any release, Stern said, special counsel Robert B. Fiske Jr. must review the records to be certain that their release will not hinder his investigation.

At President Clinton’s request, Reno appointed Fiske last week to look into all matters related to Clinton’s investment in a failed Arkansas land development, its links to a failed Arkansas savings and loan and any related matters, including Foster’s death.

Documents related to the Whitewater land development were found in Foster’s office after his death July 20. The FBI investigated the belated discovery and handling of a torn-up note by Foster critical of the FBI and other Washington institutions.

Foster was found shot to death in a suburban park, and the Park Police ruled it a suicide.

The New York Times reported in today’s editions that federal law enforcement officials who have seen the U.S. Park Police report said it suggests that Bernard Nussbaum, counsel to the President, impeded the investigation.

The officials, who were not identified, told the newspaper that the report shows Nussbaum interfered with interviews by directing that White House lawyers sit in on them--a charge that has been reported previously. Nussbaum has said the Park Police never objected to any of his actions.

The Wall Street Journal filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in New York last week to get the Foster documents, arguing that the Justice Department had “constructively and improperly denied” their release.

Reno ordered a new category of records eligible for expedited release under the Freedom of Information Act.

FOIA requests for FBI documents routinely take up to two years to be processed; requests for Justice Department documents have a six-month backlog.

Requests would be moved to the top of the list for processing if the Justice Department’s public affairs director concluded that there was “exceptional media interest” and the records involve “questions about the government’s integrity which affect public confidence.”

The goal is “to permit the public to make a prompt and informed assessment of the propriety of the government’s actions in exceptional cases,” Reno’s implementing directive said.

Stern said that Reno’s policy applies immediately to all Justice agencies and that she would use her authority to recommend that all agencies of the executive branch adopt similar policies.

Previously, expedited release was available only for documents needed to prevent physical harm or to avoid a loss of rights, such as missing a deadline to file a damage claim.

At a news conference, Reno also disputed fired FBI Director William S. Sessions’ assertion that a power struggle kept the bureau out of investigating Foster’s death. Sessions was fired by Clinton the day before the death.