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Ashcroft may work with Congress on Rich probe

Attorney General John Ashcroft

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Attorney General John Ashcroft suggested Monday he would be willing to work with Congress in its investigation of former President Bill Clinton's pardon of financier Marc Rich.

Ashcroft, in his first press conference, refused to comment directly on whether the Justice Department would appoint a special counsel to investigate the matter, as well as the controversy surrounding gifts the Clintons received and took with them from the White House.

However, Ashcroft responded to a question about a House committee's move to grant Denise Rich, the financier's ex-wife, immunity in exchange for her testimony.

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"I think it is always very important for us to take those kinds of requests very seriously," Ashcroft said. He noted that previous grants of congressional immunity have complicated subsequent prosecutions, notably those in the Iran-Contra scandal during the Reagan administration. The conviction of Iran-Contra figure Oliver North, for example, was overturned because of his congressional immunity.

"I don't want to say that we have made a decision on the request, but we will work with the understanding of the need for the Congress to get its work done as well," Ashcroft said.

Clinton's pardon of Rich -- who was indicted in 1983 on tax evasion and fraud charges -- has generated a storm of controversy. Rich was never tried on the federal charges as he has been living abroad for 17 years. Until Clinton's pardon, the Justice Department had listed him as an international fugitive.

Some critics, particularly Republicans, have suggested Clinton's pardon of Rich stems from the fact that Denise Rich has donated more than $1 million to the Democratic party and campaigns, including the successful U.S. Senate bid of Hillary Rodham Clinton.

A House panel is investigating the pardon, and a Senate committee is doing the same.

At his maiden press conference, Ashcroft -- who was elevated to the nation's top law enforcement post after a tough confirmation battle in the Senate -- outlined his plans for an internal task force to examine how the nation's guns laws are enforced. He also said another Justice Department group would be looking at drug use in the country, particularly among youth.

Finally, Ashcroft, who was opposed by a wide array of civil rights groups, stressed his commitment to eradicating discrimination in American culture.

"No one should feel outside the protection of the law; no one should be beyond the reach of the law," he said. "In housing, as it related to racial profiling, in terms of voting rights, every American has a right to expect that the implementation and enforcement of the laws be fair and be equal and that the protections of the law be accorded to all."

Asked about his position on abortion rights -- which he opposes -- Ashcroft reiterated comments he made at his confirmation hearing, saying he would respect Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that granted such rights.

"Well, I think the record is clear on it," Ashcroft said of his confirmation testimony. "I said that I didn't believe it was the agenda of the administration to unsettle what was settled law, and that, as the attorney general, I would be pursuing the agenda of the administration."

Ashcroft refused to confirm reports that Larry D. Thompson, an Atlanta lawyer, is slated to be deputy attorney general, and that Theodore Olson, a Washington attorney who represented the Bush campaign during the post-election battle in Florida, is expected to be named solicitor general. He did, however, praise the men.

"I would say that Mr. Thompson and Mr. Olson are very outstanding individuals, whose records of public service, including service with this Department of Justice, are exemplary records. But those are not my announcements to make," Ashcroft said. "Those are presidential appointments and they will require, in each case, the confirmation by the United States Senate."

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