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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ruling Expands Espy Probe

New York Times

A panel of federal judges ruled on Tuesday that the prosecutor investigating bribery allegations against Mike Espy, the former Agriculture secretary, could look into new evidence that other department officials may have done favors for industry officials in return for gifts.

In its ruling on Tuesday, the three-judge panel settled a dispute that had taken place behind the scenes between the Clinton administration’s attorney general and the independent prosecutor appointed in 1994.

Attorney General Janet Reno had challenged the authority of the prosecutor, contending that the new evidence was beyond his charter as an independent counsel. The prosecutor, Donald Smaltz, after being initially rebuffed by Reno in his effort to broaden his inquiry to cover the new evidence, took his case before the special three-judge panel that had appointed him.

The panel had selected Smaltz to look into allegations that while he was agriculture secretary, Espy had accepted gifts including lodging, travel and premium football tickets from several companies regulated by his department in return for favorable treatment.

The judges did not provide any further details of the new evidence, particularly who the Espy associates might be or who may have provided the gifts.