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)
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Source: Voice of America
.