Editorial: House, not Reno, guilty of contempt

Even the two who wrote the reports that disagree with the attorney general's view of the independent counsel law -- the FBI director and the ex-head of the Justice Department's campaign fund-raising task force -- agree with Reno that making the reports public could release sensitive information jeopardizing the investigation. So why would the House panel demand such sensitive information? Politics.

To suggest Reno is trying to protect the Clinton administration by refusing to trigger the independent counsel statute ignores the facts. These critics neglect to mention it was Reno who authorized Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr to expand his probe into Clinton's Whitewater dealings to include the allegations of misconduct involving Monica Lewinsky. If Reno is protecting Clinton, she sure has an unusual way of showing it.

If the House had any courage it would reject the Government Reform and Oversight Committee's recommendation. But so far Republicans are more intent on playing politics than letting federal prosecutors do their job.

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