Running the F.B.I

III Louis Freeh hasn't fixed everything at the bureau, not by a long shot. But he is giving it two things that used to be in short supply: morale and morality. Running the F.B.I. By Bruce Porter Photograph. by Stephen Crowley E HAD INTERROGATED SUSPECTS IN about his (*Arises and mistakes at the FBI They trau's failure to upgrade its plodding criminal- back rooms as an F.B.I. agent, made wit- berated him for being too cozy with the Clinton records computers and its glacially slow finger- Bnesses sweat when he was a United States White House, for the shabby tricks agents print division, which still depends on bleary- Attorney and sat in judgment from the Federal played on Richard Jewell when he was a suspect eyed clerks who have to thumb through inky in- bench, but Louie Freels had never been in the hoc in the Atlanta bombing cue, for violating the dee cards, sometimes taking up to sic months to scat himself. not the way he was last spring and rights of leading Republicans by supplying con- come up with a match. summer, staring grimly over batteresi of micro- fidential security files to a law-level White Tee always had tremendous raid, in the meth- phones as Senators and Congressmen grilled him House employee — even for Waco and Ruby Wiry and integrity of the F.11.1., and still have Ridge, disasters that occurred well before he be- faith in the rank-and-file RBI agents," Chairman Bruce Porter w the director of the formulism mine F.13.L director in September 1993. Freeh Robert L Livingston of the House Appropria- program at Brooklyn College. Has Fact article for was questioned about the sloppy science at the tions Committee told Freels in front of a packed the Magazine was *boar the Secret Senn re. scandal-ridden F.B.I. forensics lab, about the ha- bearing roam last March. 'But I think the leadership of the RBI. has brought the entire organiza- viduals' right to privacy. Freeh described the re- Shaping Up. Freeh (renter) leads ass early- tion into question- And you are the leader.' It was forms he was putting into effect to prevent sim- morning rum ar the F.B.I. Academy in Qmontwo. a harsh rebuke, given the deference with which ilar mistakes in the future, but he accepted re- directors have traditionally been received sponsibility, not just for the till) perpetrated on The technique was unorthodox, but it on Capitol MR. especially from Republicans like his watch, but for mistakes that had happened worked. He reminds me of Jack Armstrong, Clvolgston. But Freeh's response was the big even before he got there. the all-American Boy,' said Senator Charles surprise. He agreed with Representative Uving- 1 don't pass the buck to anybody in my or- Grassley. the Iowa Republican who witnessed a stun. Yes, the forensics lab had done sloppy ganization," Freeh told Chairman Livingston, sire lac performance by Freeh three months lat- work yes, the F.B1.'s handling of the Adults who seemed taken aback "I am the Director er before the Senate Judiciary Committee. If bombing showed terrible judgment, and no and as you said, I'm the leadership, and, if Pm you're not used to it, his candidness catches question about it, handing over those Repub- not doing a good job in this regard, then they you off guard. Its uncharacteristic of most lican files was a lamentable violation of the indi- ought to get a new F.B.I. Director.' people who testify before Congress. He's very Tx. Ms. TOae Tr SIP Y AGAM. I NOV RRRRR a, 141,7 41 sr s 'As soon as a director does things they don't like, things they think are hurting the bureau, the old white-boy network turns vicious, and they'll take him down.' open, very honest. And if there's anything at headquarters but permeated the whole wrong, he's going to correct it, so he always organization. There was not a lot getting ends up on the right side of the marten" done, and you had heads of field offices The F.B.L Director's candid approach may who were afraid to make a decision be- have diva-riled certain critics on the Hill, but the cause no one knew who was really run- question remains; What has Louis Freeh really ac- ning the RBI' complished, four years into his 10-year term? He Support for Freeh has also come from has won many admirers for upgrading the bu- law-enforcement officials in other parts nail's computer systems and labs, for creating of the country because of Isis new empha- new 'midwives to counter terrorism and for bring- sis on providing help and sharing infor- ing new talent into the bureau's upper manage- mation with local police departments. ment. But critics still abound. For example, does The bureau always had tremendous in- his new policy of openness and the claim that he's stitutional pride, but this great stren holding his agents to a higher ethical standard sig- also became their great weakness, nal an end to the bureau's nasty old habits of play- muse they thought they were better than any- The Director, 1933: Hoover kreinng rein. ing fast and loose with sinuous' rights? Not ac- body else,' says Mayor Rudolph W cording to Greg Nojehm legislative counsel for Freeh's boss for fix years in the U.S. Attorney's memoir written by an agent formerly assigned to the Arnaricin Civil Liberties Union. "Wino is office in Manhattan. 'My commissioners tell me the White House. Fresh was also accused of be- happening under Freeh is an unprecedented con- the bureau's no much more of a partner these ing too willing to keep the President apprised of centration of police power it the Federal level," days, it's been almost a revolution" investigations into possible Chinese attempts to says Nokcim, who is alarmed by Freeh's requests influence the 1946 election — investigations that for new and expanded wiretap and surveillance F COURSE, THE NEW DIRECTOR MADE might have impleated White House officials. suthority. 'What is not happening under Freels is some highly vieil..4 mistakes. He mis- In the last year, however, Freeh has resolved the creation of any accountsbility mechanisms to Otreated Frederic Whitehorse. the F.B.L many of his political problems by distancing him- insure that this power doesn't result in abuses of whistle-blower who was suspended after trying self from the White Noose moat noticeably dur- civil liberties." to get the bureau to deal with unprofessional ing the twist round of the Clinton-Gore =so- Froth Ira,also bee. criticized by members of practices in the forensics Lab. And Freeh promot- paigo finance investigations, to which he has as- the F.B.I.'s old guard — which includes current ed Larry Potts, a friend from his prosecutor days, signed dozens of agents. He has always refused to and former agents — who argue that his eager- to the bureau", No. 2 position, despite Petts's appear at ceremonial bill signings at rise White ness to acknowledge mistakes has damaged the poor showing as chief of the criminal division House, and last spring he prirateiy recommended bureau's credibility with the public, reducing its during the Ruby Ridge fiasco — a move he te- to Attorney General Janet Reno that she appoint effectiveness as a crime fighter. 1.11 the four scioded after the predictable Furor. an independent counsel to look into the Clinton years he's been there, Louie's gone from 100 "No director can avoid criticism or making campaign's fund-raising. Although Frech won't percent approval rate, a no-lose Saltation, TO a mistakes,' says Ron Noble, a former Undersec- discuss the matter, his sides say that he has repeat- very disastrous situation for himself and the or- retary of the Treasury in charge of that depart- ed the recommendation to Reno several times. ganisation,' says Oliver Revd.; of Dallas, so as- ment's law-enforcement agencies and now a His stature with his Congressional overseers is sociate deputy director under Freeh's predeces- New York University law professor. 'The ques- Improving. 'Has Louie done everything per- sor, Millions Sessions, and unofficial spokesman tion was what kind of a Director he would be fectly?' asks Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, For many present and retired members of rise when they occurred And, watching him before the tanking Democrat on the Judiciary Commit- bureau's "good of boy' sec "I say this sadly be- Congress, one of the things I was struck by was tee and a friend of the director's 'No. But he did cause the country badly needs an eff,..cd,we RILL his saying he wanted and welcomed more mu- give a much greater sense Of dartfariettlCe to Con- But ir's a fragile organization; it operates with tiny, more oversight of the F.B.I. by Congress, gress and the Amen= people that the F.B.I. the consent and support of she public, and if it which is an eircraordinary thing for art F.B.I. Di- could not only loon from its mistakes but do loses that support, it can become substantially teeter to Sly." things to keep from making more of them, and diminished and lose its way-' Despite his deft handling of Congress, Freeh that feeling jam -waxier there before.' Freeh's supporters within the bureau like ED handled several other political aspects of his job For her parr., Attorney General Reno seems to point out thar when he arrived, morale couldn't rather poorly.

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