DATE=5/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249732
TITLE=U-S / CHINA ESPIONAGE (S)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON CONTINUES TO SUPPORT ATTORNEY GENERAL,
JANET RENO, DESPITE CONGRESSIONAL CALLS FOR HER RESIGNATION OVER
THE HANDLING OF A CHINESE NUCLEAR ESPIONAGE PROBE. THE COMMENTS
COME AS LAWMAKERS PREPARE TO RELEASE A REPORT ON THE ALLEGED
CHINESE SPYING ON TUESDAY. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: MR. CLINTON IS REJECTING CALLS FROM LAWMAKERS THAT MS.
RENO RESIGN -- OR AT LEAST CONSIDER DOING SO -- FOR HER AGENCY'S
ROLE IN A PROBE OF ALLEGED CHINESE NUCLEAR ESPIONAGE.
WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART:
/// LOCKHART ACT ///
HE HAS CONFIDENCE IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND WILL
CONTINUE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HER.
/// END ACT ///
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAD REFUSED TO APPROVE F-B-I REQUESTS FOR
A WIRETAP OF A SCIENTIST AT LOS ALAMOS NUCLEAR LABORATORY WHO IS
SUSPECTED OF PASSING SECRETS TO BEIJING.
MEANWHILE, MR. LOCKHART ACKNOWLEDGES MR. CLINTON WAS BRIEFED BY
OFFICIALS LAST JANUARY ABOUT GENERAL ALLEGATIONS OF CHINESE
ESPIONAGE AT U-S NUCLEAR LABS -- EVEN THOUGH THE PRESIDENT TWO
MONTHS LATER INSISTED HE WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THE MATTER.
THE SPOKESMAN SAYS MR. CLINTON WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT ANY SPECIFIC
CASES OF ALLEGED ESPIONAGE UNTIL AFTER HE MADE HIS COMMENTS IN
MARCH. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/WTW
24-May-99 3:58 PM EDT (1958 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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