WASHINGTON-Attorney General Janet Reno this week may decide whether to seek an
independent counsel to probe allegations of political influence peddling by associates of Vice President Al Gore in
connection with a 20-year, $400,000 lease for the new headquarters of the Federal Communications
Commission.
The House Commerce Committee last month sent a scathing, 88-page report on its Portals
investigation to the Justice Department. In it, the committee said it found “specific and credible evidence
warranting further investigation.”
Among other things, the House probe revealed that Tennessee-based
developer Franklin Haney made $1 million payments to Peter Knight, former Clinton-Gore campaign manager, and to
former Sen. James Sasser (D-Tenn.), who now serves as U.S. ambassador to China.
Performance fees in federal
leasing are illegal.
Haney, Knight and Sasser, saying the huge payments are perfectly legal, claim the allegations are
politically motivated. Gore, through his press office, also has denied any wrongdoing.
Haney, a longtime family
friend of the Gore’s, contributed more than $200,000 to Democrats in 1996.
