Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Counsel probe of Sessions ruled out Date: Sat, 14 Nov 92 16:22:11 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION \HD Counsel probe of Sessions ruled out \BY Jerry Seper \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Attorney General William P. Barr will not seek the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations of criminal misconduct involving FBI Director William S. Sessions, the FBI said yesterday. Mr. Sessions had been the focus of a criminal investigation by Justice Department officials into allegations he used FBI telephones for long-distance calls; he and his wife, Alice, steered a government contract to a friend; he failed to pay D.C. income taxes; and he and his wife used government cars, airplanes and personnel for private purposes. The FBI, in a brief statement from the director's office, said Mr. Barr notified a special three-judge federal court on Thursday that he did not intend to seek the appointment of an independent counsel "for the matters under review by the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice that concern the director." "The director cooperated with the inquiry and is pleased to have this matter behind him," the statement said. Mr. Sessions, a former federal judge in San Antonio, was not available yesterday for comment. Justice Department spokesman Paul McNulty declined comment, saying only, "We will defer to his statement." No reason was given for the decision. The Independent Counsel Act says, however, that the attorney general does not have to seek appointment of outside counsel if he finds there are no reasonable grounds to believe a further criminal investigation is warranted. It was not clear yesterday if the decision not to seek appointment of an independent counsel meant that the matter was over. The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), which was not included in the FBI statement, conducts investigations into allegations of criminal and ethical misconduct by Justice Department employees. Mr. Sessions may face other action based on allegations of ethical misconduct. The ethical misconduct, according to sources, centers on purported efforts by Mr. Sessions and his wife to help a friend win a $100,000 contract to install security alarms in their Washington home. Law enforcement sources said Mrs. Sessions had suggested that the contract be awarded to Don Munford, husband of Mr. Sessions' secretary, Sarah Munford. FBI administrators later determined that the proposed contract offer was too costly, although Mr. Munford was paid $5,000 for a security survey of Mr. Sessions' home. Mrs. Munford also was accused of misusing her FBI credentials and was placed on administrative leave last month on the recommendation of the OPR. Investigators said Mrs. Munford, who has denied any wrongdoing, used her FBI credentials to persuade a Texas state trooper not to give her son a ticket for speeding. She also was alleged to have used FBI phones for personal long-distance calls. There also have been questions concerning unauthorized airplane and car travel by the director and his wife. Mr. Sessions, who was appointed to head the FBI in 1987 by President Reagan, has denied any wrongdoing. The allegations were first reviewed by the Justice Department's OPR and later referred to the Public Integrity Section, a part of the department's criminal division. The criminal accusations, according to sources, centered on Mr. Sessions' apparent failure to pay D.C. income taxes by improperly declaring that as a political appointee he was not subject to local taxes. The sources said Mr. Sessions claimed the exemption after his appointment, using as evidence that he lived in and planned to return to Texas. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM