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 For Immediate Release
Jul 20, 1997 Contact: Press Office
202-646-5172


SENATOR COCHRAN CONFIRMS RENO IS OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S REFUSAL TO OBEY COURT SUBPOENA FURTHER EVIDENCE OF OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE


Today, on CBS' "Face The Nation," Senator Thad Cochran, a member of the Government Affairs Committee investigating the campaign finance scandal, confirmed Judicial Watch's longstanding position that Attorney General Reno is subverting the campaign finance probe. Judicial Watch has pointed to the following uncontroverted facts in its court case, which uncovered Huang:

The Attorney General's refusal to appoint an independent counsel, despite clear-cut evidence of a conflict of interest, at a minimum.

The failure of Main Justice or the FBI to question, much less call before the grand jury, key Commerce Department officials. In all but one of Judicial Watch's depositions, key witnesses have confirmed that, despite nine months of alleged investigation, Reno has failed to contact them.

Reno's Justice Department having been sanctioned by the Court for litigation misconduct. This misconduct has impeded the flow of information to the public.

Last Friday, Reno's Justice Department refused to obey a court subpoena to produce the originals of John Huang's diaries, for inspection and copying to Judicial Watch. The diaries are necessary to question Huang at the continued deposition which Judicial Watch has requested. Judicial Watch will be moving the Court immediately for relief.

Senator Cochran's comments this morning mirror the obstruction experienced by Judicial Watch. He cited intervention by Reno's Justice Department to impede the flow of information to the Thompson Committee as an "obstruction" of its investigation. Apparently, Reno's Justice Department has altered FBI data provided to the Senators.

Judicial Watch Chairman Larry Klayman responded: "It's time for the establishment press to stop shielding Ms. Reno from criticism. While she may be a personable and charming lady, she has not been honest with the American people. It is a serious situation when the nation's only chief law enforcement agency ceases to represent the people, but instead is being used as a tool to protect the political party of the President and the Attorney General. When this occurred during Watergate, the Attorney General had to resign. Twenty five years later, the time has now again come for this Attorney General to either enforce the law, or get out of the way."



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