Attorney General Janet Reno Defies Contempt Citation without Hiring an Attorney

Attorney General Janet Reno has taken a unusual stance by deciding to navigate the congressional contempt vote without the assistance of a personal attorney. Despite the potential of being held in contempt for up to a year and facing a $1,000 fine, Reno maintains she does not need legal representation. The move has sparked interest as Reno presides over a Justice Department that employs over 7,000 lawyers.

Key Takeaways:

• Reno has not hired a personal attorney to advise her on the contempt vote, despite the potential for prosecution.
• The contempt citation could lead to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine if the full House votes in her favor.
• Reno has been weighing whether to recommend the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate Democratic Party fund-raising activities.
• The contempt citation is a result of Reno's refusal to turn over two documents she considers privileged in the independent counsel question.
• The U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, a Democratic Clinton appointee, would bring misdemeanor charges against Reno at the federal court.
• Reno has mentioned the contempt citation question in conversations with other Justice Department employees and would recuse herself from internal discussions on how she might be prosecuted.
• The conflict echoes the 1998 case of Anne Gorsuch Burford, President Reagan's Environmental Protection Agency chief, who was cited for contempt and refused to turn over documents.

Statistics:

• Reno presides over a Justice Department that employs over 7,000 lawyers.
• The contempt citation could result in a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
• The U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia would bring misdemeanor charges against Reno at the federal court.
• The case has sparked interest as it is unclear how the Justice Department would both defend and prosecute Reno if she is voted in contempt.

Sources:

• The Miami Herald

(Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services) rtixx