When anti-Communism became dominant in the U.S., a group on the left -- not Communist itself, but resentful of the ideological victors -- launched attacks on the anti-Communists. They called us unreconstructed cold warriors, triumphalist dupes unable to envision the convergence of the Soviet and American systems. Thus was anti-anti-Communism born.In the same way, we now see the emergence of anti-anti-corruption. It successfully vilified Ken Starr and continues its counterattack against those who dare investigate, prosecute, or voice a suspicion at the predations of the Clinton Administration.
Last week, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt was notified that no charges would be brought against him. A friend, lobbying for an Indian tribe, testified that Mr. Babbitt had told him White House pressure had been brought to bear on a casino gambling case; the Interior Secretary claimed to have been misunderstood.
Because the prosecutor was independent, not beholden to the White House, her decision not to prosecute is respected. Babbitt's reputation is restored; those of us who called for thorough investigation are now satisfied that he and his revolving-door aides did nothing prosecutable.ometimes apparent wrongdoing leads to conviction, sometimes not. Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy, indicted for accepting gifts, was acquitted, while another jury's conviction of the giver was overturned on appeal.
Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros copped a guilty plea, with no jail time, for misleading the F.B.I. about the amount of money he paid his mistress. That minor charge was unworthy of invoking the Act, but investigators wanted to know where the San Antonio Mayor got all the cash to pay her. The possibility of corruption could hardly be ignored; no other crime was found and he's a free man.
Ken Starr is ready to return to private life. He produced one report that found no foul play in the death of Vincent Foster, and another about foul playing-around that led to the first impeachment of an elected President. But on Travelgate, Filegate and the Rose Law Firm missing papers -- matters extensively investigated involving Hillary Clinton, and of interest to those with long attention spans -- he leaves with much business unfinished.he anti-anti-corruption forces say: See? That means there was nothing to any of this. All a bunch of politics. If it wasn't a prosecutable crime, it was not wrong, and should never even have been examined at such expense in trying to overcome claims of executive privilege.
Starr is duty-bound to file a full information with the court on all three investigations. The judges can then decide what conflicting grand jury testimony can be disclosed. If those investigations were stymied, we have the right to know by whom and how.
Anti-corruptionists believe that Clinton Justice corruptly harassed White House employees to justify firing them to replace them with Arkansas cronies and relatives. We suspect that the White House's political intrusion into F.B.I. files was more than just bumbling by a former bouncer.
If thorough investigations find Clinton explanations reasonable, those of us who suspect chicanery, invasion of privacy and cover-up should admit without apology that we were mistaken. Likewise, if non-criminal wrongdoing is revealed, Mrs. Clinton should own up to it.Starr's long-overdue report on nonsexual White House conduct shouldn't be allowed to hang over Hillary Clinton's Senate campaign next year. In the 80's, the Iran-contra prosecution disgraced itself with election-eve indictments. Starr should sign off on his criminal information before leaving.
David Johnston and Don Van Natta Jr. of The Times reported the other day that prosecutor Robert Ray, in line to replace Starr, is primarily focused on attempts to influence Kathleen Willey's testimony about her harassment charge. That always deserved scrutiny, but no prosecution force needs two years to determine whether to ask for a witness-intimidation indictment. Ray should wrap it up before December.
With no more independent counsels and with see-no-evil pervasive at Justice, power's corruption has a bright future. The counterpunchers of the anti-anti-corruption movement will espouse giving politicians the benefit of the doubt as long as their favorite occupies the Oval Office. When that changes, we'll welcome them over to the anti-corruption side.
REPORT BY:- WILLIAM SAFIRE
PUBLISHED BY:-GOURI SHANKAR ROUT
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