1 1 2 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 3 Press Conference 4 THE HONORABLE JANET RENO, ATTORNEY GENERAL 5 Thursday, October 9, 1997 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2 1 P R O C E E D I N G S 2 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Last Friday, I sent a 3 letter to Chairman Hyde, responding to his and his 4 colleagues' request that I apply for the appointment of an 5 independent counsel. Almost immediately, some people 6 claimed that I had made a final decision with respect to 7 certain fund-raising activities and use of government 8 facilities by determining that at this time I did not have 9 information that triggered the independent counsel statute 10 with respect to covered persons. These claims are simply 11 not true. 12 This is an ongoing investigation. It is being 13 conducted in a professional, sensible way, by building our 14 case from the ground up, by investigating and confronting 15 low-level targets and moving up the chain of those 16 involved to whomever is responsible. And by building 17 cases that provide proof that meets the test of the law 18 and that will stand up in court. 19 I do not seek to create headlines or deal in 20 innuendo or mere speculation. I want to make decisions 21 and build cases that stand the test of time and court 22 review. And no pressure or harsh words or editorials will 23 change my focus. 24 There have been claims that we have somehow tied 25 investigators' hands or chosen not to pursue all available 3 1 leads or spare high-level figures by not triggering the 2 provisions of the independent counsel statute. These 3 claims are not true. I will continue to review the 4 evidence. And if the information triggers the statute, I 5 will do so as I have already done in this case. 6 At the same time, it is our duty to carefully 7 review all the information, and separate information from 8 innuendo, and fact from speculation based on unreasonable 9 deductions when determining whether to commence an inquiry 10 against a covered person. 11 More than 120 agents, attorneys and staff are 12 working full-time to do this investigation in the right 13 way. No criminal case in this Department has more 14 resources. More than a million pages of documents have 15 been obtained. Hundreds of interviews have been 16 conducted. We have an active Grand Jury investigation. 17 And agents have been dispatched across the country to 18 track down leads. 19 When I say that I am determined to follow every 20 lead, I mean it. But I do not mean to follow innuendo or 21 rank speculation. 22 Some have claimed that I have not vigorously 23 pursued evidence, by failing to secure production of White 24 House tapes. These claims are not true. As I have said 25 before, we have an active Grand Jury investigation 4 1 underway. In general, the law relating to grand juries 2 does not allow me to discuss Grand Jury subpoenas and 3 their enforcement. Thus, all I can say is that we sought 4 the production of these tapes in an appropriate manner and 5 are as disturbed as anyone about their delayed production. 6 I cannot tell you everything that has gone on in 7 the course of our investigation to date or everything we 8 have done. Because as I have told you on a number of 9 occasions, prosecutors should not comment about pending 10 investigations. But if I could, it would dispel so many 11 of the misunderstandings and so much of the misinformation 12 that has swirled around this investigation. People have 13 alleged that we are reacting only to the press and to the 14 work of others. But that is only because they cannot see 15 everything we are doing. 16 I am going to press on and investigate until we 17 find the truth. I will close by saying this. In my 4 and 18 a half years in Washington, I have asked for independent 19 counsels on several occasions, and referred additional 20 matters to them at least twice more. On other occasions, 21 I have declined to do so. Each time, I acted 22 deliberately, after thorough analysis. Each time, I 23 worked with career prosecutors to separate the fact from 24 the hype. And each time, my decision was based on the 25 facts and the law, and nothing else. 5 1 No one can shout loud enough or write a headline 2 big enough or use words shrill enough to keep me from 3 doing what I think is the right thing on this 4 investigation. 5 Now, I will be happy to try to answer your 6 questions. 7 QUESTION: General Reno, can you tell us, on 8 Saturday, when you learned of the tapes, of the existence 9 of the tapes, what was your reaction? 10 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I was mad. 11 QUESTION: Mrs. Reno, based on what we know and 12 your investigators know now about those tapes, would they 13 have made any difference at all in the letter that you 14 sent to Chairman Hyde? 15 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Based on everything that 16 we know of those tapes at this point, it would not. 17 QUESTION: Would it have changed the assessment 18 that none of the coffees were outside of the residence? 19 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Would you say that 20 again? 21 QUESTION: Would it have -- my recollection from 22 your letter was that one of the reasons that the coffees 23 didn't trigger an independent counsel was that it was -- 24 the investigators' understanding was that they were all at 25 the residence. The tapes appear to show that at least one 6 1 was at the Oval Office. 2 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I think it would clearly 3 indicate that there was one in the Oval Office. But I do 4 not -- I am told by the investigators that it would not 5 change the determination in the letter. 6 QUESTION: With whom were you angry? 7 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: What? 8 QUESTION: With whom were you mad? 9 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I was very disturbed 10 that the tapes had not been produced in a current fashion 11 and that it had taken so long, after the production of the 12 tapes, to let us know. 13 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, can you make an assessment 14 just watching the tapes, or do you need to go back and 15 interview the people who attended those coffees? When you 16 look at the tapes, you can see a lot of people fully aware 17 that a camera was present. 18 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Again, what we are doing 19 in the process, and I think it is important to realize, 20 that we are continuing to investigate the use of 21 facilities. That does not mean that that triggers the 22 independent counsel statute. And we are going to continue 23 to review all aspects of it. 24 If the evidence develops information that a 25 covered person may have committed a crime, we will trigger 7 1 the statute. 2 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, in addition to being mad, 3 what are the options available to the government with 4 regard to the nonproduction -- non-timely production of 5 those materials? 6 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Again, as I indicated 7 previously, I really cannot comment on our -- the steps 8 that we can take with respect to enforcement. 9 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, in terms of mad, are you 10 mad at -- 11 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Wait just a second. 12 QUESTION: Are you considering any steps at this 13 time? 14 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Again, I would not 15 comment on the steps that we are taking. 16 QUESTION: You said that you were mad about the 17 delay. Are you also mad that the White House counsel, 18 Mr. Ruff, failed to inform you about the existence of the 19 tapes when you met with him last Thursday? 20 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I think it is important 21 in this whole process that there be early communication. 22 Processes have been set up in the White House, and I think 23 Mr. Ruff had relied on those and not realized that the 24 information had not been provided. 25 QUESTION: Do you believe the explanation about 8 1 their not being able to find the tapes or not being able 2 to produce them? Do you believe that it is further 3 necessary to investigate what may have been deleted or 4 what may still be withheld? 5 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I would not comment. 6 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, your statement this morning 7 was extremely strong. Now, it is no secret to the 8 American people that you are taking on this daily 9 criticism -- or almost hourly criticism -- from Republican 10 leaders in Congress. Is your statement to us not only to 11 editorial writers, but to Republican leaders in Congress? 12 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: My statement really is 13 addressed to the American people, because I think they are 14 the people that count in this whole equation. I think 15 they have got to understand what is being done. I think 16 they share -- and there is an innate sense of justice in 17 the American people -- that share a feeling: Don't just 18 make allegations without having foundation. Don't take 19 action without foundation when you conduct criminal 20 investigations, when you institute criminal processes. 21 Make sure you know what you are doing. 22 And I think it is important for us all -- people 23 have reminded me -- my sister reminded me last night that 24 what we are seeing is not anything really new. She had 25 apparently read some recent history of Thomas Jefferson, 9 1 and it suggested that he had some of the same comments 2 directed at him. And I think it is important that we 3 understand this in the context of history and that we do 4 everything we can to let the American people know what the 5 process is and what we are trying to do. 6 One of the frustrations, however, that a 7 prosecutor has and that an investigator has is that while 8 the investigation is underway, while a Grand Jury 9 investigation is underway, you cannot discuss the details 10 of the investigation. There may be some that think we 11 should. But I think the American people would rather have 12 their investigations conducted in a solid, professional 13 way -- not in the headlines, but in a thorough, methodical 14 way, that builds the evidence that stands up in court. 15 Because one of the things I know the American 16 people do not like is investigations that lead to 17 prosecutions, that lead to convictions, that get reversed 18 on appeal. And we do not want that to happen. 19 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, is it a problem, though 20 that -- (off microphone) -- and that it really does not 21 matter what you say -- (off microphone) -- 22 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: One of the things that I 23 do not pay much attention to as well as editorial writers 24 is polls. Because one of the things that I have learned 25 is that the questions posed in polls sometimes confuse the 10 1 situation. And what I have got to do is do the best that 2 I can; let the review of the investigation, when it is 3 concluded -- let people be the judge of what we did. And 4 I am willing to subject myself to that scrutiny. 5 Judging by the comments that I am receiving -- 6 and they are anecdotal and they certainly do not represent 7 all the American people -- people want it done right. 8 They do not want it done based on polls. They do not want 9 it done based on speculation. They do not want it done in 10 dribs and drabs and dripples here. They want it done 11 right. And we are going to try to do it right. 12 QUESTION: Are you getting a lot of mail from 13 the public on this? 14 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I have not checked to 15 see. 16 (Laughter.) 17 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, what was the sense that 18 Chairman Hyde -- (off microphone) -- thinking about 19 talking? You made the point that they -- (off 20 microphone). You made the point -- (off microphone) -- it 21 certainly had been shown that they had calls to raise hard 22 money and that hard money was in fact raised there. So is 23 one reason now why the coffees appear still to be legal in 24 your mind -- (off microphone) -- is the fact that -- (off 25 microphone)? 11 1 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Either solicited or 2 received is the language of the statute. And it is very 3 specific. 4 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, could you tell us about -- 5 (off microphone) -- from the FBI -- (off microphone) -- 6 essentially end your investigation? 7 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: What I had indicated 8 when we announced the addition of people to the task force 9 is that in any investigation there is a tension oftentimes 10 between investigators and prosecutors -- one wanting to do 11 one thing, one wanting to do another. And I think that 12 tension can be healthy. We just had a meeting 13 yesterday -- our regular meeting with the FBI and the 14 prosecutorial -- with Chuck Lavella. And I am convinced 15 that, judging from their reaction, their comment, there is 16 a real spirit of teamwork now. And I feel very gratified 17 by that. 18 QUESTION: Have you talked to Judge Green about 19 these problems? 20 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Judge Green and I are in 21 regular communication on this effort. 22 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, in your opening comment, 23 you mentioned the Grand Jury process in regards to the 24 production of the tapes, and subsequently, in response to 25 a question, you said there will be steps you are taking. 12 1 You are leaving the clear impression that production of 2 the tapes -- (off microphone) -- criminal investigation. 3 Is that the inference we should draw from your statement? 4 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I would not comment. 5 QUESTION: It is just that we have some 6 clarity -- (off microphone) -- you had taken certain steps 7 -- (off microphone) -- Grand Jury process -- 8 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I mention Grand Jury 9 process as a general statement, pointing out that I could 10 not comment on subpoenas or enforcement. 11 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, you say that you want the 12 American people to know -- (off microphone) -- but, in 13 fact, the American people, and reporters, are in the dark 14 on -- (off microphone). One of the -- (off microphone) -- 15 the Justice Department released, 2 weeks ago, an FBI 16 report showing that the Justice Department had 17 information -- (off microphone) -- technology and about 18 unlawful disposal of genetic materials. And yet, there 19 were -- (off microphone) -- very narrow questions -- (off 20 microphone). This indicates to me the Justice Department 21 did know about it. 22 And so my question is, specifically on this 23 case, is there any kind of investigation into this? Or is 24 the investigation -- (off microphone)? 25 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I will be happy to have 13 1 Bert give you any information that he can, consistent with 2 the matter as it is pending. 3 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, there have also been 4 renewed suggestions -- I guess is the best way to put 5 it -- that one way for this to be resolved would be, 6 rather than to appoint an independent counsel, just 7 simply -- (off microphone) -- this all to a special 8 prosecutor. Is that anything you are still thinking 9 about? 10 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I always try to listen 11 to suggestions as to what we might do. As I have pointed 12 out previously, when I used that provision previously and, 13 myself, appointed the special counsel, as opposed to 14 applying to the special division of the court to appoint 15 the independent counsel, the special counsel was 16 criticized for not being independent because I had 17 appointed him. But as I pointed out to you last week, 18 since I am the only one that can remove an independent 19 counsel appointed by the court, that question still arises 20 as well. 21 Again, what I am trying to do is look at the 22 evidence in the law and do it the right way. 23 QUESTION: Would it be fair to say that the 24 possibility of a special prosecutor, as opposed to an 25 independent counsel, is not a live option? 14 1 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I do not foreclose 2 anything in the course of the investigation, because what 3 I want to try to do is make sure people understand I am 4 not shutting doors, I am not saying this investigation is 5 concluded or this aspect of the investigation is 6 concluded. I am going to continue to try to conduct this 7 investigation in an orderly way and see where it takes us. 8 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, you say that you always 9 listen to suggestions. There have been some substantial 10 suggestions that you resign. 11 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I listen to those. 12 (Laughter.) 13 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I listen to those. 14 QUESTION: When you talk to your sister down in 15 Florida, and she says, Janet, come on back, you know, 16 bring your boat and let's just, you know, kind of tool 17 around the Everglades here. Do you think about that? 18 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Well, one of the things 19 that I think about is -- what she pointed out to me was, 20 when I said, when I come home, I will not have the Potomac 21 to try my hand on the rapids. And she said, I have got a 22 new deal for you. She said, I took my boat out into the 23 ocean and surfed it in; and it was a thrilling experience, 24 and you will like that a lot, too. 25 QUESTION: There you are. 15 1 QUESTION: Amen. 2 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Wait for Thanksgiving. 3 (Laughter.) 4 QUESTION: How much of your statement this 5 morning was inspired by the Republican criticism -- (off 6 microphone)? Are you trying to send them a message by 7 making this statement this morning? 8 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: No, I am trying to talk 9 to the American people. And I will welcome the 10 opportunity next week to talk to the members of the House 11 judiciary committee. 12 QUESTION: Are you as mad at the congressional 13 committees as you are at the White House? 14 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I do not get mad at 15 people for saying mean things. I just try to mosey on and 16 do it right. 17 QUESTION: Can you tell us a little more 18 about -- 19 QUESTION: How significant is it that one of the 20 Republicans did appear -- (off microphone) -- 21 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: The issue is whether 22 there was a solicitation or receipt of a contribution. 23 And that is the key to it. And that is what we will 24 continue to review. 25 QUESTION: You seem to be really narrowing down 16 1 your view of that; that it is the law that prohibits 2 solicitation and receiving of contributions. Have you 3 determined now that, number one, the act has got to take 4 place on the premises, so that it is a fundraiser and 5 not -- (off microphone) -- number one; and, number two, 6 have you determined whether soliciting or receiving on the 7 phone is illegal? 8 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Again, the second issue 9 is under review at this -- and the first issue, my 10 recollection is that there is -- there was a case pending 11 and the question arose with respect to President Carter, 12 as to whether there was a solicitation. It did not, I 13 think, ultimately address the place in the White House, 14 and that that might still be a consideration. But I would 15 ask Bert to confirm that for you. 16 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, why wasn't there more of a 17 push or a demand from the Department, from the White 18 House, to produce the Locket tapes? Locket has been 19 around for 40 or 50 years, or whatever, and everyone knows 20 that these types of tapes are available. Why wasn't there 21 more of a push in the Department to get those tapes 22 earlier? 23 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Again, I would not 24 comment about the enforcement process. 25 QUESTION: Did you feel like you were being -- 17 1 QUESTION: (Off microphone) -- are you talking 2 now about the application of 607, as far as solicitation 3 and receiving? I just want to be sure I understood your 4 language. 5 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: You have to have -- let 6 me have Bert, so that I do not misquote the statute -- 7 give you the actual language. 8 QUESTION: (Off microphone) -- would like at the 9 specific question -- (off microphone) -- 10 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Again, let me have Bert 11 give you the specifics so that I do not misstate it. 12 QUESTION: Where do you stand on a decision for 13 next week on whether you need to open a preliminary 14 investigation of the President's phone calls? 15 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: That is pending. 16 QUESTION: Have you received any 17 recommendations, either verbally or in writing, from your 18 staff on which ways to go? 19 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: No, I have not. 20 QUESTION: Could you tell us a little more about 21 why you were -- what made you mad. Did you feel you were 22 being deceived or manipulated or -- in your own words? 23 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: When you have something 24 like this, when you have a situation where the White House 25 has recognized the responsibility to produce the 18 1 documents, it is very, very frustrating to have them 2 produced in such a delayed fashion. And I also thought 3 that we should have been told immediately, as soon as they 4 were found. 5 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, given the belated 6 production of the tapes, is your letter to Chairman 7 Hyde -- (off microphone) -- is your letter to Chairman 8 Hyde now -- (off microphone)? 9 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: No. But as we have told 10 Chairman Hyde in the letter, we will continue to review 11 all the information, to see if there is any information in 12 the course of this investigation that triggers the 13 statute, and we will trigger it. 14 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, were you informed about the 15 case before -- (off microphone)? 16 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I do not know what the 17 timing of the release to the media was. I learned about 18 it Saturday. 19 QUESTION: Did you realize you were kind of left 20 out of the loop -- (off microphone)? 21 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I believe that we were 22 not told in a timely fashion. 23 QUESTION: Ms. Reno -- (off microphone) -- 24 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: It has not triggered a 25 new 30-day. Again, we will continue to review all aspects 19 1 of the matter. And if it does, if there is information 2 that is developed, we will trigger it. 3 QUESTION: (Off microphone)? 4 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: No, I have not. 5 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, one of the criticisms from 6 the Hill yesterday was -- that was directed at you -- (off 7 microphone) -- said that you had been up to testify and 8 you had said that no stone was left unturned, and now, 9 here it comes that there were these tapes. Is it a fair 10 criticism of the task force that the task force did not 11 know about the tapes? 12 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I do not think that that 13 is a fair criticism at all. And as I have indicated to 14 you, I cannot discuss the processes. And that again is 15 one of the frustrations, if we are to conduct this 16 investigation according to law and in an appropriate way, 17 there is going to be a lot that we cannot talk about in 18 terms of what we have done in the investigation, in all 19 aspects of it. 20 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, Chairman Burton has -- (off 21 microphone). What is your reaction to that? What is the 22 Justice Department's reaction to that? 23 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: We are working with the 24 chairman to see just how we can accommodate the oversight 25 interests of Congress while, at the same time, considering 20 1 the interests of the Department of Justice. 2 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, if we can get back to the 3 independent counsel statute for a moment. Presumably your 4 critics on the Hill read the statute, and voted for it or 5 against it back in 1994. In your opinion, is there any 6 way, given what you know now and given the elements of the 7 statute, is there any way that you could seek the 8 appointment of an independent counsel? 9 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: My understanding is 10 that -- if you are asking about -- are you distinguishing 11 between the special counsel and the independent counsel? 12 QUESTION: Yes. 13 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: My understanding is that 14 I still have available the opportunity to appoint, myself, 15 a special counsel. 16 QUESTION: But do you have a legal right now, 17 under the independent counsel law, to go the special 18 division and ask for an independent counsel? 19 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: There are several issues 20 involved. One, is there a covered person? And do I have 21 information on a covered person that would trigger the 22 statute? 23 And my conclusion to date is that we do not, but 24 that we will continue to review it and, if information is 25 developed, we will appropriately trigger the statute. 21 1 With respect to non-covered persons, if there is 2 information with respect to a non-covered person that 3 would create an actual conflict of interest, that would 4 also trigger the statute. And I have concluded that that 5 does not exist at this point. 6 QUESTION: So your answer, under the -- given 7 the facts of your investigation so far and the facts of 8 the law itself, you cannot go to the special division and 9 ask for an independent counsel? 10 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: That is what I have 11 concluded to date. Now, just to be the devil's advocate, 12 others would say, well, you really do have an actual 13 conflict of interest. I have carefully reviewed it, 14 because what the statute, in effect, does is create the 15 categories where the conflict exists, with the President, 16 for example, the Vice President, and they are the covered 17 people. And if the evidence is triggered, it is assumed I 18 have a conflict and the statute is triggered. 19 I do not feel, to date, that I have a 20 conflict -- an actual conflict of interest with respect to 21 any other person for whom there may be specific or 22 credible evidence. 23 QUESTION: Then are you being urged to break the 24 law to immediately seek an independent counsel from the 25 special division? 22 1 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I think Chairman Hyde 2 and his colleagues have a different understanding of the 3 law. I would never suggest that they are urging me to 4 break the law. 5 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, how do you -- (off 6 microphone) -- about the cooperation that you have gotten 7 from the White House -- (off microphone) -- in response to 8 subpoenas and so forth, in addition to this -- (off 9 microphone) -- issue? 10 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I have had no 11 information that would indicate that there has not been 12 good cooperation prior to this. 13 QUESTION: But this goes back to Bernie 14 Nussbaum's time in the White House Counsel's Office. I 15 mean, there seem to be repeated episodes where you have a 16 problem with someone in the White House Counsel's Office 17 not providing you with full information. Why is it that 18 you cannot settle these problems with this White House? 19 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Again, what we are doing 20 is taking steps to see what we can do to make sure it 21 never happens again. Otherwise, I cannot discuss with you 22 the process. 23 QUESTION: Are you satisfied with the Ruff 24 explanation? You seem to be saying that -- (off 25 microphone)? 23 1 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Again, I would not 2 comment with respect to -- because there are a number of 3 issues, in addition to Mr. Ruff's explanation, and I would 4 not comment. 5 QUESTION: (Off microphone) -- the FBI about 6 the -- (off microphone) -- 7 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I have understood that 8 the FBI has met with the families and that Director Freeh 9 has initiated a review to make sure that something like 10 that does not happen again. 11 QUESTION: Do you know what the status of the 12 investigation is? 13 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: No, I do not. I would 14 suggest you check with the FBI on that. 15 QUESTION: Does it concern you -- (off 16 microphone) -- 17 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I think it is important 18 in any situation like that, that there be an immediate 19 response, that there be a follow-up, and that we review it 20 to see why it happened, and take steps to see that it does 21 not happen again. 22 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, there is a book out -- just 23 out -- that reports that Lyndon Johnson had -- (off 24 microphone). Have your guys checked the White House to 25 see if President Clinton has a similar system? 24 1 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I would not comment 2 concerning the efforts in the investigation. 3 QUESTION: Have you inquired personally with 4 members of the task force and asked if any of them thought 5 about tapes and asked the White House, and who in the 6 White House they may have asked about it? 7 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Again, I would not 8 comment. 9 QUESTION: (Off microphone) -- soft money -- 10 (off microphone) -- that 441(e) does not apply to soft 11 money. I am wondering about the application of 441 -- 12 (off microphone) -- to soft money. Is it the position of 13 the Department that the restrictions on -- (off 14 microphone) -- contributions are or are not applicable? 15 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Again, I would have Bert 16 give you whatever we can appropriately comment on. 17 QUESTION: (Off microphone) -- White House -- 18 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: Has it what? 19 QUESTION: (Off microphone) -- between the 20 Justice Department and the White House -- 21 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I do not know quite how 22 you mean the term "strained." I think any time somebody 23 gets upset and mad at what happened, there perhaps is a 24 strain. 25 QUESTION: Have you talked with the President 25 1 about that? 2 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: No. 3 QUESTION: Has he apologized to you? 4 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: No. 5 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, some of the audio on the 6 videotapes is a little hard to hear. Is the FBI -- and 7 maybe they have already or are they planning to enhance 8 the audio? 9 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I would not comment. 10 QUESTION: Ms. Reno, why have you decided not to 11 talk to the President on this? 12 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I talked to Mr. Ruff, 13 who was response. 14 QUESTION: But given the fact that he does 15 not -- (off microphone) -- chief law enforcement officer, 16 what about talking directly to the President? 17 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO: I talk to Mr. Ruff. 18 Thank you. 19 VOICE: Thank you very much, Mrs. Reno. 20 (Whereupon, the press conference concluded.) 21 22 23 24 25