Just How Much Sleaze Does It Take These Days?

Tacitly or explicitly, White House aides and their friends at the Democratic National Committee have acknowledged so much sleazy behavior in their 1996 election campaign fund-raising juggernaut that it’s hard to believe that no laws were broken. But Atty. Gen. Janet Reno, drawing a fine legal line, declared Monday that there is no compulsion under the law to seek appointment of a special counsel to investigate the White House’s fund-raising frenzy last year.

We’ll take her at her legal word. After all, Reno has been an independent and straight-forward attorney general--so much so that many administration insiders opposed her reappointment following President Clinton’s reelection.

The reality is, however, that this is not just a legal issue but a political one. Reno’s decision will be interpreted by Clinton foes as one taken at the behest of the White House in order to contain the scandal. In fact, the administration would be better off having a special counsel, who could bring independence and credibility to the investigating arena.

Republicans already are claiming cover-up and calling for Reno’s head. That’s the sort of partisan attack that Reno invites by keeping the monkey on her back. After all, Bill Clinton is her boss. That automatically puts her in an apparent conflict of interest. In Washington these days, appearance too often blurs into reality.

If there has been any sort of cover-up, it will not remain secret for long. Career investigators in the Justice Department and FBI are well into the investigation now. They may ultimately report to Reno as attorney general, but attorneys general--and presidents--come and go. The investigators are not likely to sacrifice their careers by succumbing to political pressure, especially from an administration that is suffering a serious credibility gap.

Meanwhile, back at the White House, the beat goes on. Officials released the names of 56 political contributors who took rides on Air Force One, the presidential jet. The passengers each gave at least $5,000 to the Clinton campaign or $25,000 to the Democratic National Committee. That is not necessarily illegal, of course; and that’s part of the problem.