Reno Expresses Support For Fbi Director Freeh

Attorney General Janet Reno expressed complete “confidence” in FBI Director Louis J. Freeh Thursday, despite President Clinton’s concerns about the bureau’s reluctance to provide the White House details on China’s alleged efforts to influence political campaigns in the United States.

“I have every confidence in Director Freeh,” Reno said during her weekly news briefing. “I have watched him deal with some of the most sensitive and important issues that we face in this country, and he’s done so with firm determination to pursue the truth, to get to the right answer, to make sure that steps are taken to ensure justice is done.”

Reno’s remarks were made a day after Clinton reiterated his concern about the FBI withholding information that could affect national security. Thursday, Clinton again emphasized his stance on such matters, telling reporters “doubt should be resolved in favor of disclosure to the National Security Council of essential national security information.”

Clinton said he had to “trust the attorney general to make sure that the National Security Council gets the information that we need to make good national security judgments here.” A day earlier Clinton expressed his confidence in Freeh, but in a more measured tone.

Clinton’s concern stems from Freeh’s decision not to provide the White House a full briefing on allegations that the Chinese government tried to funnel money into federal elections.