FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 1998
SEN. SHELBY COMMENTS ON SECOND DAY OF HEARINGS INTO TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO THE CHINESE
WASHINGTON, D. C. --- U. S. Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) chaired the second day of Intelligence Committee hearings into the technology transfers to China and the possibility that those transfers may have harmed U. S. national security. Sen. Shelby and members of the committee heard from Attorney General Janet Reno and FBI Director Louis Freeh in closed session today. Yesterday, the Committee heard from Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet.
Sen. Shelby said, "I believe we made significant progress today with FBI Director Louis Freeh and with Attorney General Janet Reno. Director Freeh was very candid with us and he indicated today, as he has before, that he will work with the Committee and furnish all relevant information to help the Committee in its inquiry. I was also pleased with Attorney General Reno's statement to us, as well as her candor. She indicated that she will reevaluate what information she can furnish to this Committee---information that will help us in our inquiry."
Yesterday, Attorney General Reno directed the Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet not to answer the Committee's questions related to technology transfers from Loral to the Chinese. Today, the Attorney General released some of that information and agreed to reevaluate additional information.
Sen. Shelby said, "Technical information relating to technology transfers is a key component in this Committee's investigation. The Attorney General has said she will reevaluate the information, and her decision yesterday, and respond promptly to the Committee's requests for information. She has said she will get back to us today.
The Attorney General is charged with controlling and protecting information related to the ongoing criminal investigation, but at the same time she must realize that we on the Intelligence Committee must be privy to information that relates to national security. That's a significant part of our job.
We made progress today, but we have a long way to go. I'm optimistic that we'll continue to have good cooperation."
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