Hyde promises to scrutinize FBI snafus
This story, republished from our archives, first ran December 26, 1996.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry J. Hyde plans to help pursue a rigorous investigation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's conduct as the new Congress begins work in January.
Hyde, a Wood Dale Republican, said he has strong reservations the nation's top investigative agency, led by Director Louis Freeh, has become too partisan and less than credible over the past several years.
His crime subcommittee plans to launch a study of the FBI's handling of former suspect Richard Jewell in the Olympic bombing in Atlanta.
"We want to see how vigorously the FBI pursued finding out who leaked to the media" Jewell's identity, Hyde said.
No final decisions have been made, but Republican leaders might also assign the committee to probe the controversy over several hundred FBI files ending up in the hands of a White House security employee , Hyde said.
"It just seems there's been a flurry of real serious problems," the veteran congressman said.
"It's still astounding to me some 900 files were delivered to a man who was a bouncer at a Georgetown bar who was put in charge of security at the White House," he said. "It has a terrible aroma to it and no answers have been forthcoming."
He cited FBI problems that included the bungled FBI raids of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, and the fatal standoff in Ruby Ridge, Idaho.
Hyde said he also believes the bureau's general counsel, Howard M. Shapiro, leaked to White House aides the contents of a less-than-flattering book about the Clinton administration by a former agent.
"I'm also concerned about the politicization of the FBI when the general counsel gives the White House an advance warning" on a to-be-published book, Hyde said. "I don't think that should've happened."
The powerful Republican, whose committee is responsible for providing oversight of the bureau and Department of Justice, had praise for Clinton's re-appointment of Attorney General Janet Reno, despite her role in ordering the Waco raid.
"She got stung with Waco, although she wasn't in office very long," he said. "I don't fault her too much for that. She has shown some independence."
But Hyde was highly critical of Freeh. Asked if he thought the bureau director should resign, Hyde said, "I don't want to say that yet.
"I'm not ready to condemn him or call for his resignation," the congressman said, "but he has to provide some answers. We deserve some answers."
Hyde did note that Freeh generally has been highly regarded and has well-respected credentials for his job.
"While I deplore what appears to be the politicization of the FBI," he said, "I don't want to politicize the pursuit of some of these answers, so I want to proceed carefully."
Still, he said, seeking answers on these incidents from the bureau so far has been "like wrestling with an octopus in the water - you're battling all these arms and you don't get any answers, all you get is ink."
In addition to investigations into FBI activities, Republicans in control of Congress still plan a debate over campaign finance reform and a probe into questionable fund-raising on behalf of Clinton.
At the same time, a special prosecutor continues to study the Clintons' involvement in the Whitewater land deal in Arkansas.
Ironically, Hyde said he and Republican leaders believe voters sent a message last fall that they want less sniping and more cooperation between Congress and the White House.
The GOP will not back off its investigations but will try to please the public by balancing its pursuit of what it believes are questionable practices by Clinton with productive passage of bills the president will sign.
"Confrontation is not helpful," Hyde said. "We have serious philosophical differences and they will be played out. It won't all be custard and tapioca.
"Now, if the leadership is very skilled, they'll sandpaper off the rough edges," he said, "but that's asking for Utopia."