Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Reno Said to Seek Counsel in Espy Case

Atty. Gen. Janet Reno is ready to ask for the appointment of an independent counsel to take over the inquiry into Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy’s links to an Arkansas-based poultry producer, a newspaper reported. But a Justice Department official called the New York Times report “a matter of speculation at this point.” The Justice Department has been looking into whether Espy violated the 1907 Meat Inspection Act by accepting football tickets and an airplane trip from Tyson Foods. Espy said he expects to be cleared because he reimbursed Tyson for all costs.