| For Immediate Release Aug 6, 2001 |
Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
IN SHADES OF MARC RICH, FREEH RECEIVES LAST MINUTE REPRIEVE Judicial Watch To Launch Independent Investigation, Seek New Justice Department Investigation Into Cover Up (Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest law firm that investigates and prosecutes government abuse and corruption, announced today a new investigation of the cover up of former FBI Director Louis Freeh�s role in the Ruby Ridge scandal. The Washington Post reported yesterday that Freeh had been recommended for censure by investigators, but that Reno�s Justice Department rejected any action in the waning days of the Clinton Administration. In a further obstruction of justice, the Post also reported that FBI agents who investigated Freeh�s role were subjected to threats and retaliation by senior FBI officials for conducting a thorough investigation. Judicial Watch will begin to seek information on this new scandal and demand that the new Bush Justice Department investigate as well. Larry Potts, a former FBI official and Freeh friend who issued illegal �shoot on sight� orders which led to the death of a woman clutching her infant at the hands of a FBI sharpshooter, now works for Bill Clinton�s private investigator Terry Lenzner. �Now we know why Louis Freeh, while leaking and talking a good game to Capitol Hill Republicans, never took a strong stand against Clinton in Chinagate and other scandals; Clinton-Reno and their henchman had the Ruby Ridge censure hanging over him to keep him in line. And at the end of the Clinton terms, with no Chinagate independent counsel and no accountability for the Clinton White House for their role in Chinese espionage, Freeh received his reward for a job well done: a last minute reprieve from Clinton and Reno,� stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman. �Any student of Freeh�s role in the Ruby Ridge cover up understands that Freeh wired the internal FBI investigation to try to help his friend Larry Potts escape punishment. That�s called obstruction of justice. The Bush Justice Department should not only investigate Freeh but the Clinton Justice Department�s role in �pardoning� him,� said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. | |