Reno Decides to Expand Gore Fund-Raising Probe

WASHINGTON — Atty. Gen. Janet Reno has decided to expand the Justice Department’s probe of Vice President Al Gore’s fund-raising telephone calls, it was learned Thursday night.

As Republicans chided Gore’s acceptance of free legal help from a high-profile lawyer, government officials said that Reno has decided to open a 60-day investigation into the vice president’s phone calls, the next step in a process that could lead to the appointment of a independent counsel.

Gore has acknowledged making fund-raising calls from his office. President Clinton has said he can’t recall making such calls but acknowledged that he may have done so. But both Gore and Clinton have argued that such calls are legal.

Ginny Terzano, a spokeswoman for Gore, said Thursday night that neither the vice president nor his attorneys have been informed by the Justice Department of Reno’s decision.

“We would not be surprised if the Justice Department decided to go to an extended review,” Terzano said, “because there simply has not been enough time in 30 days for them to fully explore this matter.” Last month, Reno ordered the Justice Department to conduct an initial 30-day review of Gore’s White House calls.

Two senior White House officials, including an aide in Gore’s inner circle, and one of Gore’s attorneys also said they had not been notified of a decision by Reno.

A Justice Department task force investigating alleged campaign money illegalities in last year’s election had recommended that Reno move to the next stage in determining whether Gore’s phone calls warrant a special prosecutor. Reno has followed the task force’s recommendations throughout its investigation.

Reno was to seek permission today to announce her decision from the three-member special court that actually appoints independent counsels and also convey it to Rep. Henry J. Hyde of Illinois, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

Hyde had cited Gore’s phone calls and Clinton’s use of White House coffees and overnight stays to reward political donors in seeking the appointment of an independent counsel.

Ordinarily, the 30-day review ordered by Reno would be followed by a 90-day preliminary investigation if the attorney general was advised by her investigators that further evidence still had to be gathered. A senior government official said Thursday night that Reno had decided to open a preliminary investigation of only 60 days because Hyde had sent her a letter last month demanding such an inquiry.

Expecting Reno to take the next step toward a special prosecutor, Gore last month hired two defense attorneys. One of them, James Neal, a Nashville lawyer who is also a former Watergate prosecutor, said Thursday that he would not charge legal fees--a move that drew instant criticism from the GOP.

“So-called pro bono or free legal services are supposed to be for the poor and the needy, not the vice president of the United States,” said Republican National Committee chairman Jim Nicholson.

“Mr. Gore owes the American people an immediate explanation of this unusual fee arrangement: At the very least, it is a questionable exercise of the vice president’s judgment,” the Republican said in a statement.

Neal issued a statement in response: “The idea to volunteer my time to represent the vice president during this period was mine, based on my high regard for the vice president and my longtime friendship with his entire family,” he said.