[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 57 (Tuesday, May 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S4094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RESIGNATION OF DIRECTOR FREEH

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, the principal reason for my seeking 
recognition is to comment briefly on the announced resignation of FBI 
Director Louis Freeh. He has tendered his resignation effective in June 
of this year. I believe Director Freeh has done an outstanding job in a 
very difficult position.
  I had considerable opportunity to work with Director Freeh in my 
capacity as chairman of the Subcommittee on the Judiciary and when I 
chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee. The Judiciary Subcommittee 
on Terrorism in 1996 had extensive hearings on Ruby Ridge, with Randy 
Weaver isolating himself, and action by the Alcohol, Tobacco and 
Firearms units and FBI that led to a shootout which regrettably caused 
the death of a U.S. Marshall, Randy Weaver's wife, and Randy Weaver's 
young son.
  During the course of that investigation, FBI Director Freeh had the 
courage to stand up and change very deeply ingrained policies in the 
FBI, changing their rules of engagement and their use of deadly force. 
I think that took some doing in the face of institutional opposition.
  He led an outstanding FBI investigation into the bombing on Khobar 
Towers, personally making a number of trips overseas. That is a matter 
which has yet to see a final resolution, but there has been very able 
and excellent investigative work done by the FBI in that matter in a 
very difficult circumstance, working with officials from Saudi Arabia.
  Director Freeh did a good job in campaign finance reform, taking 
positions which were sometimes in conflict with the Attorney General, 
technically his superior, in the Department of Justice, although the 
FBI Director has unique status, really, in that he has a 10-year 
appointment. So there were times when Director Freeh found it necessary 
to take stands in opposition to the Attorney General of the United 
States and sometimes even in opposition to the President of the United 
States. While I didn't always agree with some of the details, it was my 
view it was a strong performance on the part of FBI Director Louis 
Freeh.
  I think the Director also did an outstanding job in expanding the 
FBI's role in combating organized crime internationally, and his tenure 
has seen a vast expansion of FBI offices around the world carrying on 
very important counterespionage work and counterterrorism work. There 
has been an excellent level of cooperation established between the FBI 
and the CIA under the CIA leadership of George Tenet and, before that, 
John Deutch, with the FBI directorship under Louis Freeh.
  There have been difficulties during Director Freeh's tenure with the 
FBI crime lab and with the investigation of Dr. Wen Ho Lee--on that 
subject, the Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the 
Courts is continuing the inquiry--and also with the allegations as to 
the Hanssen case, the alleged spy.
  But I think, overall, Director Freeh's tenure with the FBI has been 
outstanding. He brought to the position unique credentials, having been 
an FBI agent and assistant U.S. attorney, a Federal judge, and he had 
the capacity to know law enforcement while also understanding civil 
rights. When the problems arose in Ruby Ridge, he did not hesitate to 
change the longstanding FBI policies on the use of deadly force in 
recognition of civil rights, at the same time maintaining very strong 
law enforcement standards.
  I think the President will have a difficult replacement assignment in 
finding another Director who can measure up to what Director Freeh has 
done. It is certainly a fact when law enforcement has faced tough 
issues, they have moved ahead and made many assignments to the FBI. 
Director Freeh's response on changing the FBI's use of deadly force was 
in sharp contrast to the refusal of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms 
units, and even the Secretary of the Treasury, to make changes when 
there had been clear-cut fault established as to the Alcohol, Tobacco 
and Firearms unit.
  I salute Director Freeh on the announcement of retirement and note 
his very excellent work and say we will have a tough time finding 
someone to fill those big shoes.

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