Reno Roast Embarrasses Nobody but Congress

Over a span of five hours Tuesday, House Republicans grilled Atty. Gen. Janet Reno with questions they knew Reno could not, and would not, answer. Along the way, Reno was threatened with both contempt of Congress and impeachment proceedings. This was not an outstanding example of the proper use of Congress’ investigating powers.

Reno and FBI Director Louis J. Freeh were summoned before the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee by Chairman Dan Burton (R-Ind.) for an examination of Reno’s decision to not request an independent counsel to investigate the fund-raising practices of President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore. The panel demanded to know why Freeh had disagreed with that decision, a fact that became public with the leak of the general conclusion of a confidential memo from Freeh.

Time and again, Reno and Freeh were asked to reveal specifics of the memo, which Burton had subpoenaed and which Reno and Freeh refused to provide. Time and again, Reno and Freeh refused, explaining that to do so could compromise the ongoing Justice Department investigation by tipping off targets about where the probe was headed. That would be “the dumbest thing” a prosecutor could do, Reno sputtered, finally losing a bit of her studied composure.

Reno and Freeh also were united in arguing that disclosure of the memo would set a bad precedent and discourage future FBI chiefs from discussing issues candidly with their boss, the attorney general.

While we and other news organizations have reported on leaked documents in the past and abhor secrecy in government, there is an enormous difference between a leak and compelled disclosure. Federal executives need some latitude for confidential discussions during the decision-making process. Chairman Burton surely would insist on the same thing in his dealings with his own staff.

If Republicans hoped to drive an embarrassing wedge between Reno and Freeh, the effort was in vain. Freeh steadfastly refused to criticize Reno, saying he had total confidence in her integrity and independence in making decisions affecting the official she answers to, the president. And if the Republicans thought their strident, repetitive questioning would make Reno appear to be the willing political puppet of Bill Clinton, they were mistaken. All Burton and his allies managed to do was expose their effort for what it was--a partisan sideshow.