Barnes & Nobleinfoseekad

Home
AllPolitics
 

 Home
 News
 Analysis
 Community
 CNN.com

Related Stories
 Former Espy Aide Gets 27 Months In Prison (03-18-98)

 Tyson Foods Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges(12-29-97)

 Former Espy Aide Convicted Of Lying(12-01-97)

 Espy Pleads Not Guilty (09-10-97)


Search


  Help

Panel Says No To Expanded Espy Probe

By Terry Frieden/CNN

WASHINGTON (June 12) -- The independent counsel investigating former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy was rebuffed Friday in his bid to expand his ongoing probe.

Espy

A three-judge panel rejected the request from prosecutor Donald Smaltz who sought additional authority because he has "uncovered evidence of other serious violations of law by Secretary Espy and others close to him."

The opinion by the panel,which oversees all independent counsel investigations, did not specify what violations Smaltz believed he had uncovered. The ruling did, however, make clear the Justice Department had opposed granting Smaltz the expanded jurisdiction.

The opinion declared it would not disclose the nature of the "allegations of criminal activity on the part of Espy and others," which had been laid out in a secret filing by Smaltz.

The court's opinion represents a reversal of fortunes for Smaltz who won a similar request from the panel last year, despite objections from the Justice Department.

Smaltz was appointed after Attorney General Janet Reno concluded a special prosecutor was needed to investigate allegations that Espy received illegal gifts from private firms regulated by Espy's Agriculture Department. But the prolonged investigation has led to public feuding between Smaltz and Justice officials who think the probe has gone too far.

In its opinion rejecting Smaltz's latest request, the court Friday said his new allegations were not "sufficiently demonstrably related to the initial grant of jurisdiction" he had been given. The court also said it agreed with the attorney general's arguments that the new jurisdiction sought by Smaltz exceeds the court's constitutionally limited authority.

The court revealed only that Smaltz wanted to investigate "misconduct by a high official and the potential presence of eight unnamed common witnesses." But the court concluded that the facts "do not involve any alleged misuse of the office of Secretary of Agriculture by Espy."

In Other News

Friday, June 12, 1998

Clinton Extends Offshore Oil Drilling Ban
Judge Raises Questions About Lindsey's Conduct
Justice Department Files Appeal On Secret Service Privilege
Panel Says No To Expanded Espy Probe
Senate Rejects Fee Limits For Tobacco Lawyers


Archives   |   CQ News   |   TIME On Politics   |   Feedback   |   Help

Copyright © 1998 AllPolitics All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this information is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.
Who we are.