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Reno Seeks Special Privilege in Elian Case Janet Reno has "qualified immunity" and therefore cannot be personally held liable for the illegal and brutal raid of the home of Lazaro and Angela Gonzalez, Elian’s Miami relatives. This is the argument Reno’s attorney (a Bush Justice Department lawyer) put forth in Court on April 23rd as they tried to have Judicial Watch¹s case on behalf of the victims of the raid dismissed. Judicial Watch is arguing before the 11th District Court of Appeals in Miami that, under orders from Janet Reno, more than 150 government agents "gassed, beat, kicked, punched and held at gunpoint" the peaceful protesters that gathered on behalf of Elian outside the Gonzalez home, thus violating their civil rights. "Our clients were physically abused when all they were doing is praying for the American dream," said JW Chairman Larry Klayman. "Janet Reno knew about it, and gave the orders. She is responsible, and Judicial Watch will make sure she is held accountable." Last October, Reno sought unsuccessfully to have the charges dismissed in the U.S. District Court, but Judge Michael Moore let the claims stand, saying "a reasonable officer in Reno¹s position would know that the law forbade her from directing the execution of a warrant in a manner that called for unjustified force against bystanders." Now the Bush Justice Department is defending her. The three judge panel is considering the evidence and will soon issue a ruling in JW’s case.
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