Republicans step up criticism of Gore fund-raising

June 25, 2000
Web posted at: 5:42 p.m. EDT (2142 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republicans increased their criticism of Vice President Al Gore on Sunday, saying his 1996 fund-raising practices merit a formal investigation and promising congressional hearings of their own into the matter.

In this story: LaBella again calls for independent counsel Republicans cite phone calls, temple fund-raiser RELATED STORIES, SITES

Republican calls for a probe have intensified since Thursday's revelation that a Justice Department lawyer wants to appoint a special counsel to examine Gore's fund-raising of four years ago. Attorney General Janet Reno has refused to do so.

Sen. Pete Domenici, R. New Mexico, said on CNN's Late Edition, "It is very suspicious and cries out for a special prosecutor, of that there can be no doubt."

Domenici said fund-raising scandals have "festered" within the Clinton administration, and "the vice president becomes more and more part of it."

LaBella again calls for independent counsel

Charles LaBella, the former Justice Department lawyer who had unsuccessfully urged Reno to appoint an independent counsel on the Gore matter, reiterated his demand on Sunday.

"The American people will not accept the Department of Justice looking at it because they're too involved with the White House," he said.

LaBella called it "mind-boggling" that the department had already spent four years on the issue.

Sen. Arlen Specter, R. Pennsylvania, said he wants Reno, who will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, to explain her decision not to appoint a special counsel.

He also wants to hear from FBI Director Louis Freeh, who supports a formal inquiry of Gore.

"I want to know what the truth is," Specter said.

Republicans cite phone calls, temple fund-raiser

Some Republicans say Gore acted improperly during the last presidential election by soliciting campaign funds via telephone from the White House and attending a fund-raiser at a Buddhist temple.

Federal law prohibits political activity in government offices and bans fund-raisers at religious institutions because of their tax status.

Gore has denied any wrongdoing, and Specter stopped short of accusing the vice president of any illegal act.

"I've not said that the vice president has done anything wrong," Specter said. "What I have said is there is a basis for (an) independent counsel."

Rep. Dan Burton, R. Indiana, an outspoken critic of the Clinton administration, was harsher in his criticism.

"The vice president, we believe, has lied under oath," Burton said, adding the same charge about President Clinton.

Ron Klain, a Gore campaign adviser who was also appearing on CNN's Late Edition, suggested that Texas Gov. George W. Bush's presidential campaign was behind the latest leak about Justice Department deliberations on Gore's fund-raising activities.

"Al Gore was involved in nothing illegal, and I think the real question ... is for the Bush campaign. Were they involved in this leak?" Klain said.

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