Reno Defends Stand on Special Counsel

Atty. Gen. Janet Reno brushed aside Republican criticism of her refusal to seek an independent counsel to investigate Democratic campaign fund-raising. “I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t, and so the best thing I can do is ignore the politics, ignore the pressures from both sides . . . and just call it like I see it,” she told her weekly news conference, defending her decision to leave the expanding probe in the hands of career Justice Department prosecutors and FBI agents. She said she isn’t withering under heavy criticism from congressional Republicans. “If the end brings you out all right, what people said about you won’t make any difference,” she said.