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ATTORNEY GENERAL STATEMENT ON VICE PRESIDENT GORE

"Over the past four years, the Campaign Finance Task Force has been vigorously investigating allegations of wrongdoing in the 1996 election cycle.

"I am pleased with the progress the Task Force has made, and I respect all of those who have contributed to the success.

"Robert Conrad, the current head of the Task Force, is one person who deserves a good deal of credit for the success. He is an excellent prosecutor. I meet with him on a regular basis and I am impressed with his judgment, his management of the Task Force, and his knowledge of the law.

"There will always be disagreements among lawyers. The Supreme Court often splits 5-4. The arguments around this table where I have my staff meetings are vigorous and that's the way I want it.

"But I can tell you my regard for Bob Conrad has only increased as I have dealt with him on this issue.

"Like those before him, Bob believes that internal deliberations among prosecutors should not become public. There are two basic reasons for this.

"First, we should encourage candid, vigorous internal discussion as we determine how to proceed in any matter. Participants should feel free to disagree. Release of internal recommendations threaten such a candid discussion.

"Secondly, such a release of internal preliminary recommendations in a pending matter is not fair to those involved, and it undermines the fairness and the credibility of our entire criminal justice system. For example, today Bob Conrad has been tagged with being the only person in the Justice Department who thought I should appoint a special counsel. Although I am not going to get into who recommended what, I can tell you that is not correct.

"Earlier, someone released the fact that Bob had recommended that I appoint a Special Counsel to further investigate the falsity of certain statements the Vice President made in an interview conducted by Mr. Conrad last April about the Hsi Lai Temple event and coffees held by the Vice President and the President as part of the l996 campaign. The recommendation did not involve the legality of those events themselves.

"I have carefully reviewed the transcript of the Vice President's interview as well as related documents and materials. The Special Counsel regulations provide for the appointment of a Special Counsel when the Attorney General "determines that criminal investigation of a person or matter is warranted," that investigation would present a conflict for the Department of Justice or other extraordinary circumstances and it would be in the public interest to appoint a Special Counsel.

"Because further investigation is not likely to result in a prosecutable case under applicable criminal law and principles of federal prosecution, I have concluded that a Special Counsel is not warranted.

"The transcript reflects neither false statements nor perjury, each of which requires proof of a willfully false statement about a material matter. Rather, the transcript reflects disagreements about labels.

"I have concluded that there is no reasonable possibility that further investigation could develop evidence that would support the filing of charges for making a willful false statement.

The Task Force will, of course, continue its ongoing investigation into illegal fundraising activity, and will be free to pursue all avenues of investigation, wherever they may lead."

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