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Justice Department Prosecutor Calls for Special Counsel to Investigate Vice President's 1996 Fund-Raising

Aired June 23, 2000 - 9:09 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now to controversy that Vice President Al Gore can't seem to escape. He's, once again, facing the possibility of a new investigation into his campaign fund-raising activities.

Details now from CNN senior White House correspondent John King.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): CNN has learned a top Justice Department prosecutor wants a special counsel named to investigate the vice president's 1996 fund-raising. Gore was questioned by investigators in April. And sources tell CNN, among the issues was whether he knew his now infamous appearance at a Buddhist temple event in California was designed to raise money for the Democratic Party.

The recommendation goes to Attorney General Janet Reno and her top advisers, and there is already pressure from Republicans to launch an investigation.

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R), PENNSYLVANIA: I believe, after the Department of Justice has been very embarrassed by their lack of activity and therefore has renewed the investigation.

KING: The vice president was campaigning in Minnesota when word of the new development broke.

VICE PRES. AL GORE (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You're privy to news that I don't have.

KING: Gore spokesman Jim Kennedy later issued a statement saying, quote, "The vice president has cooperated with the investigation every step of the way."

Gore advisers privately suggested leaking word of the recommendation was an attempt to pressure Reno, who repeated refused to launch an investigation under the old independent counsel law. In any case, the timing is terrible for the vice president. He trails in national polls. And this appearance with Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura was designed to boost Gore's lagging support among independent voters. PETER HART, DEMOCRATIC POLLSTER: It's a negative impact because it takes Al Gore back into the Clinton administration, and talking about the past. Al Gore needs to be talking about a Gore administration in the future. It hurts him.

KING: The Bush campaign said, quote, "The governor believes that the American people are tired of all the scandals and the investigations, and the best way to make them go away is to elect someone new and different."

Gore aides say they are confident there will be no investigation, but realize Republicans will cry coverup if Reno refuses to name a special counsel.

(on camera): But Gore advisers say such a political controversy would be far preferable than the alternative: a new legal investigation that could shadow the vice president throughout the fall campaign.

John King, CNN, Minnetonka, Minnesota.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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