Reno Beefing Up Team Investigating Fund-Raising
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WASHINGTON — Atty. Gen. Janet Reno said Thursday she is expanding the size of a Justice Department task force investigating campaign fund-raising abuses because of the probe’s complexity.
Reno, in a session with reporters, played down her disagreement with FBI Director Louis J. Freeh over whether to seek an independent counsel to take over the investigation, which is focused in part on actions by White House and Democratic Party officials.
Freeh has said he believes the Justice Department has a conflict of interest in conducting the inquiry and has recommended that an independent counsel be named.
Reno’s decision to add to the task force parallels Freeh’s recent announcement that he has nearly doubled the number of FBI agents assigned to the probe.
Justice Department officials declined to specify Thursday how many new lawyers would be joining about half a dozen already on the task force.
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