Independent Counsels Galore
Dateline: 05/15/98
Lets see, it's raining here in Northern California. That's nothing new. Attorney General, Janet Reno is looking for a Independent Counsel. Neither is that.
Independent Counsels (or Independent "Prosecutors") are lawyers, selected by the Attorney General and appointed to investigate allegations of illegal activities on the part of Federal Government officials.
The Independent Counsel Process
When allegations of wrongdoing are lodged, the Attorney General conducts
a preliminary investigation. Unless the allegations can be proven absolutely
false, the Attorney General must appoint an Independent Counsel. The process
was first used during the Watergate scandal and is designed to keep an Attorney
General from investigating people of the same administration. For example,
Attorney General Janet Reno investigating charges against President Clinton
who appointed her AG. If the Independent Counsel's investigation finds the
allegations to have merit, charges can be filed and indictments sought.
Meet the Counsels
When selected, the latest Independent Counsel will investigate claims against
Secretary
of Labor Alexis Herman that she helped with an influence peddling
scheme while serving as a White House aide during President Clinton's first
term.
The chosen attorney will join this lineup of current and recent Independent Counsels...
Kenneth W. Starr -- Investigating the Clinton's involvement in Whitewater, Ms. Lewinsky, perjury, obstruction of justice, etc., etc. Clearly the most famous Indpendent Counsel, Starr doesn't have a web site yet. Or a book. Odd.
Carol Elder Bruce -- Looking into allegations that Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt lied to Congress concerning his role, or lack thereof, in some casino proposal.
Donald C. Smaltz -- is investigating charges that Mike Espy accepted improper gifts while serving as Secretary of Agriculture. Now, Mr. Smaltz has a very nice web site at http://www.oic.gov/smaltz/index.htm where you can find out how you, too can become an Independent Counsel in Mr. Smaltz's speech, "So You Think You Want to be an Independent Counsel." Smaltz's investigation of Mr. Espy has actually resulted in some indictments and a guilty plea from Tyson Foods.
David M. Barrett -- Investigating charges that former Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Henry G. Cisneros supplied Congress with false statements in his background check.
Daniel Pearson -- was investigating possible illegal financial deals made by former Commerce Secretary, Ronald H. Brown until Secretary Brown died in a plane crash. The investigation has been closed.
Curtis Von Kann -- examined possible campaign finance wrongdoing by Eli J. Segal while he ran President Clinton's national service organization. Mr. Segal was cleared and the invesitgation was closed.
While you wait for AG Reno to pick the next Independent Counsel and, of course, for Ken Starr's web site, here's a good story on the subject (and the source of lot's of the information in this feature) from the "Washington Post" of May 12, 1998; Page A01: Reno Seeks Outside Prosecutor for Herman -- by Roberto Suro
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