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Morning News

Justice Official Recommends Special Counsel to Investigate '96 Gore Fund-Raising

Aired June 23, 2000 - 10:00 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: We are going to start this hour with a story that we were looking at much of last hour. More troubles, potential troubles for Vice President Al Gore. Ghosts from an election past are coming back to haunt the presidential candidate as he tries to improve his standing in the 2000 campaign.

Sources say a top Justice Department official has recommended that a special counsel be named to investigate Gore's '96 fund-raising activities. That preliminary recommendation comes two months after Justice Department lawyers questioned Gore about a Buddhist temple fund-raising event that he attended. Attorney General Janet Reno will make the decision on whether to go forward with any investigation.

For more on the story now we go -- there you are, Pierre Thomas. We go to CNN Justice correspondent Pierre Thomas.

Pierre, good morning.

PIERRE THOMAS, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

The attorney general finds herself in a familiar position. One of her top aides is recommending an independent counsel or special counsel investigation of Vice President Gore. I can tell you already there's division within the Justice Department, some people think it's a good idea to go forward with a special counsel investigation, others do not. Reno finds herself again in a tough position.

This morning she would not comment specifically on the investigation, but talked about the standards that she will try to use.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANET RENO, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: The most important thing in any investigation, particularly in this time of year, is that we conduct an investigation the right way; not in the headlines, not with pressure from people who may have differing views, but just do it right: methodically, carefully, without commenting on it and get it done as quickly as possible. And then make whatever decisions are the correct decisions based on the evidence and the law.

The worst thing you can do in an investigation is dribble it out piece by piece without presenting the whole and without completing the whole, and that's what I am determined to do. I don't want to present half facts. I don't want to represent a piece here and a piece there that may not be subsequently corroborated. I want to do it the right way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS: But Reno's top aides recognize that she's now in a very difficult position. Whatever decision she makes, she's likely to be criticized. If she decides to go forward with a special counsel investigation, Vice President Gore will have a cloud over him, if she decides not to go forward, the critics from congressional -- congressional critics will be very, very loud -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And Pierre, if she does go ahead and appoint a special counsel, this is a different special counsel situation, isn't it? than when Ken Starr was appointed. The law has changed, so how would that effect a situation like this?

THOMAS: Well, basically, the special counsel would be appointed by the attorney general, she would not have to go to a three-judge panel to ask that one be appointed. She would simply pick a person and then that person would have independence, but ultimately would report to the attorney general.

So again, it's a very, very difficult situation for the attorney general of the United States.

KAGAN: Pierre Thomas, in Washington, thank you very much.

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