CIA CRACK COCAINE REPORTFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AG
THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1998
(202) 616 2777
TDD (202) 514 1888
STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO
ON THE RELEASE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S
CIA CRACK COCAINE REPORT
"Last December, I exercised my statutory authority under the Inspector General Act to defer release of the Inspector General's report on the CIA crack controversy. I did so for a simple and important reason: to protect the integrity of an ongoing law enforcement operation.
"I also pledged at that time to approve the release of the report unchanged whenever the law enforcement concerns abated. Because the investigation in question was recently concluded, I have now approved the release of the report.
"By delaying the report's release, federal law enforcement officials were able to protect the integrity of a very important though unrelated investigation, as well as the safety of an undercover agent, a confidential informant, and members of the informant's family.
"The report released today was completed on December 17, 1997, and it has not been changed. My decision to delay its release was not taken lightly, and the circumstances demanded nothing less. But this delay takes nothing away from the importance of the Inspector General's findings or the enormity of his task, and I am grateful to him and his office for their work and their patience."
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