Kantor Backs Reno, Decries ‘Whispers’

Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor defended Atty. Gen. Janet Reno and criticized what he implied was an anonymous White House whispering campaign seeking her ouster. Kantor did not say Reno was a must for President Clinton’s second-term Cabinet, but he said on CNN’s “Evans & Novak” that the decision about keeping Reno should be made regardless of the Justice Department’s role in investigating suspected illegal Democratic campaign activities. Reno’s Justice Department has turned down three requests to appoint an independent counsel to investigate Democratic fund-raising by and from people with links to wealthy foreigners. Kantor also said he thinks First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton should be given a role in Clinton’s second term, possibly as a chief player in reforming welfare.