Editing Janet Reno (section)

==U.S. Attorney General==
[[File:Clinton Administration.jpg|thumb|President Clinton's Cabinet, 1993. The President is seated front right, with Vice President [[Al Gore]] seated front left.]]
[[File:Bill Clinton with Al Gore and Janet Reno.jpg|thumb|Reno in the [[White House Rose Garden]] with Vice President Gore and President Clinton]]
[[File:05.PeaceOfficersMemorial.WDC.15May1998 (24337317374).jpg|thumb|Reno speaking at the 1998 [[Peace Officers Memorial Day|National Peace Officers' Memorial Service]]]]
[[File:Biden Crime Bill.jpg|thumb|right|Reno looks on as Sen. Joe Biden speaks at the signing of the 1994 Crime Bill]]
President-elect [[Bill Clinton]] had vowed to assemble an administration that "looked like America", and it was widely assumed that one of the major cabinet posts would go to a woman.<ref name=":13">{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/jmd/ls/agbiographies.htm#reno|title=Biographies of the Attorneys General|publisher=Justice.gov|access-date=May 28, 2011|archive-date=May 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519073051/http://www.justice.gov/jmd/ls/agbiographies.htm#reno|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-03-04-mn-304-story.html|title=Reno's Confirmation Hearing to Start Tuesday|last=Associated Press|date=March 4, 1993|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 27, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=December 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209113134/http://articles.latimes.com/1993-03-04/news/mn-304_1_confirmation-hearing|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 11, 1993, Clinton introduced Reno as his nominee for [[United States Attorney General]], stating that he wanted to hire a woman for the job but had also considered multiple male candidates.<ref name=":12" /> Both of his previous choices, [[Zoë Baird]] and [[Kimba Wood]], faced problems because [[Nannygate|both had employed undocumented immigrants as nannies]].<ref name="Fox News, Reno dies at 78" /> Clinton said he had discounted Reno early in his search because she did not have experience in the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] or [[Law of the United States|federal law]], but ultimately he came to understand that she had experience with a variety of criminal law issues from her role as State Attorney.<ref name=":12" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/admin/stories/reno021293.htm|title=Washingtonpost.com: Clinton Nominates Reno at Justice|last=Marcus|first=Ruth|date=February 12, 1993|website=www.washingtonpost.com|access-date=August 27, 2018|archive-date=September 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903184626/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/admin/stories/reno021293.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 11, 1993, the [[United States Senate|Senate]] confirmed Reno by a vote of 98 to 0.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/12/us/reno-is-confirmed-in-top-justice-job.html|title=RENO IS CONFIRMED IN TOP JUSTICE JOB|last=Ifill|first=Gwen|date=March 12, 1993|work=The New York Times|access-date=August 27, 2018|archive-date=June 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624010549/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/12/us/reno-is-confirmed-in-top-justice-job.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":14" /> She was sworn in the next day, becoming the first woman to serve as U.S. Attorney General.<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?38686-1/attorney-general-swearing-ceremony|title=Attorney General Swearing-in Ceremony|date=March 12, 1993|website=C-SPAN.org|language=en-US|access-date=August 27, 2018|archive-date=August 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828071035/https://www.c-span.org/video/?38686-1/attorney-general-swearing-ceremony|url-status=live}}</ref> As Attorney General, Reno oversaw the Justice Department and its 95,000 employees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-janet-reno-snap-story.html|title=Janet Reno, the first woman to serve as attorney general, dies at 78 after years-long struggle with Parkinson's disease|last=Phelps|first=Timothy M.|date=November 7, 2016|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=August 27, 2018|archive-date=August 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828071214/http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-janet-reno-snap-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Reno remained Attorney General for the rest of Clinton's presidency, making her the longest-serving Attorney General since [[William Wirt (Attorney General)|William Wirt]] in 1829.<ref name="Fox News, Reno dies at 78" />

In 1994, Reno tasked the Justice Department with compiling a report on DNA exoneration. The science was still new at that point in time. Reno commissioned the report after reading about the exoneration of a death row inmate. She wanted to know how many cases existed like the one she read about and what the Department of Justice could learn from it. The resulting report concluded there was a strong possibility that many more wrongful convictions that could be cleared with DNA evidence existed. Reno changed policies on how to interview eyewitnesses and laboratory protocols in response.<ref name=":14">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/11/nyregion/janet-reno-was-unafraid-of-science-that-could-exonerate-the-innocent.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220103/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/11/nyregion/janet-reno-was-unafraid-of-science-that-could-exonerate-the-innocent.html |archive-date=January 3, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Janet Reno Was Unafraid of Science That Could Exonerate the Innocent|last=Dwyer|first=Jim|date=November 10, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 23, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The following [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] actions occurred during Reno's tenure:
* The 51-day [[Waco siege]] standoff and resulting 76 deaths—the [[Branch Davidians]]—in [[Waco, Texas]]. (The standoff began on February 28, 1993, twelve days before Reno was installed as attorney general). Reno stated in congressional testimony that she authorized the FBI assault on the Branch Davidians because of reports that militia groups were en route to Waco during the standoff "either to help [Branch Davidian leader David] Koresh or to attack him."<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosenbloom |first=Joe III |title=Waco: More than Simple Blunders? |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/waco/blunders.html |agency=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=PBS.org |date=October 17, 1995 |access-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-date=September 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930081343/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/waco/blunders.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The FBI had also, erroneously, reported to Reno that children were being abused at the compound.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/2016/1/5/10714746/waco-ruby-ridge-oregon|title=History shows us why the feds aren't going into the Oregon standoff with guns blazing|last=Lind|first=Dara|date=January 5, 2016|work=Vox|access-date=August 25, 2018|archive-date=August 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826113455/https://www.vox.com/2016/1/5/10714746/waco-ruby-ridge-oregon|url-status=live}}</ref> Reno publicly expressed her regret of the decision to storm the compound, and accepted full responsibility for the loss of life.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Janet-Reno |title=Janet Reno {{pipe}} United States attorney general |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |date=November 7, 2016 |access-date=November 7, 2016 |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011214809/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Janet-Reno |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The antitrust division brought [[United States v. Microsoft Corp. (2001)|suit]] against the software company [[Microsoft]] for violation of the [[Sherman Antitrust Act]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/04/business/us-vs-microsoft-overview-us-judge-says-microsoft-violated-antitrust-laws-with.html|title=U.S. VS. MICROSOFT: THE OVERVIEW; U.S. JUDGE SAYS MICROSOFT VIOLATED ANTITRUST LAWS WITH PREDATORY BEHAVIOR|last=Brinkley|first=Joel|date=April 4, 2000|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=November 7, 2016|archive-date=December 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216210441/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/04/business/us-vs-microsoft-overview-us-judge-says-microsoft-violated-antitrust-laws-with.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/judge-says-microsoft-violates-antitrust-act-april-3-2000-105298|title=Judge says Microsoft violates antitrust act, April 3, 2000|last=Glass|first=Andrew|date=April 3, 2014|work=POLITICO|access-date=June 10, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140318/https://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/judge-says-microsoft-violates-antitrust-act-april-3-2000-105298|url-status=live}}</ref> The Justice Department alleged that Microsoft was bundling its browser with its operating system to decrease competition for other browser makers.<ref name=":8" /> Microsoft executive [[Steve Ballmer]] responded to the suit saying "To Heck with Janet Reno", a comment for which he later expressed regret.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/node/15108468|title=The end, sort of|date=December 16, 2009|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=June 11, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143634/https://www.economist.com/node/15108468|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/10-dumbest-tech-pr-moves-ever/3/|title=10 dumbest tech PR moves ever|date=June 18, 2011|work=cbs.com|access-date=June 10, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143848/https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/10-dumbest-tech-pr-moves-ever/3/|url-status=live}}</ref> The case was ultimately settled in 2001, after Reno's departure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/07/politics/janet-reno-10-things-historic-career/index.html|title=Janet Reno's career punctuated by highs, lows|last=McLaughlin|first=Eliott C.|date=November 7, 2016|publisher=CNN|access-date=June 11, 2017|archive-date=January 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117115102/http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/07/politics/janet-reno-10-things-historic-career/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Declining to question anyone in the [[Wenatchee child abuse prosecutions]],<ref name=wsj96>{{cite news |last=Rabinowitz |first=Dorothy |author-link=Dorothy Rabinowitz |title=The Pursuit of Justice in Dade County |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB846454858888293000 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=October 28, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030803074347/http://www.psych.mcgill.ca/courses/xcourses/oct29.htm |archive-date=August 3, 2003}}</ref> with Reno concluding there was no "evidence of prosecutable violations of federal civil rights law".<ref name=spi98>{{cite news |title=Justice's watchdogs looked the other way: An angry reaction |url=http://www.lawreport.org/ViewStory.aspx?StoryID=553 |newspaper=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |date=February 27, 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040206195509/http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/powertoharm/probe2.html |archive-date=February 6, 2004}}</ref>
* Prosecution resulting in the conviction of 21 of the [[Montana Freemen]], a group that did not believe there should be government above the county level, after an 81-day armed standoff which ended without loss of life.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/06/14/81-day-freemen-standoff-ends-without-bloodshed/|title=81-day Freemen Standoff Ends Without Bloodshed|newspaper=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|access-date=November 7, 2016|archive-date=November 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107221321/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-06-14/news/9606140175_1_freemen-standoff-fbi-agents|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{cite news|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/twenty-years-ago-today-the-montana-freeman-started-its-81-day-standoff-180958568/|title=Twenty Years Ago Today, the Montana Freemen Started Its 81-Day Standoff|last=Lewis|first=Danny|date=March 25, 2016|work=Smithsonian|access-date=August 25, 2018|archive-date=August 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826150112/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/twenty-years-ago-today-the-montana-freeman-started-its-81-day-standoff-180958568/|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 1996, Montana Freemen began a 61-day standoff with the FBI after the FBI arrested three members of the group for refusing to leave property from which they had been evicted.<ref name=":9" /> Following the tragedy at Waco, the FBI was determined to avoid violence, and Reno assured the public that the FBI was looking for a peaceful solution to the standoff.<ref name=":9" /> 
* Capture and conviction of [[Ted Kaczynski]], the Unabomber.<ref name=":WaPo, The Administration, Reno">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/admin/reno.htm|title=Washingtonpost.com: Politics – The Administration, Janet Reno|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=November 7, 2016|archive-date=December 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204071109/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/admin/reno.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CNN, Reno, first female US AG" />
* Capture and conviction of [[Timothy McVeigh]] and [[Terry Nichols]] for the [[Oklahoma City bombing]].<ref name=":WaPo, The Administration, Reno" /><ref name="CNN, Reno, first female US AG" />
* Capture and conviction of those who conducted the [[1993 World Trade Center bombing]], resulting in life-sentences of Sheik [[Omar Abdel-Rahman]] and four conspirators.<ref name="CNN, Reno, first female US AG">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/07/politics/janet-reno-dies/index.html|title=Janet Reno, first female US attorney general, dies|last=Blau|first=Max|publisher=CNN|access-date=November 7, 2016|archive-date=November 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108000008/http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/07/politics/janet-reno-dies/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Leak to the news media regarding [[Richard Jewell]] that led to the widespread and incorrect presumption of his guilt in the [[Centennial Olympic Park bombing]]. She later apologized, saying "I'm very sorry it happened. I think we owe him an apology. I regret the leak."<ref name="Reno to Jewell">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9707/31/reno.jewell/index.html |title=Reno to Jewell: 'I regret the leak' |website=[[CNN]] |date=July 31, 1997 |access-date=May 19, 2007 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024352/http://www.cnn.com/US/9707/31/reno.jewell/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The government's unsuccessful defense of the [[Communications Decency Act]], which culminated in the Supreme Court decision ''[[Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union]]''.
* Identification of the correct suspect ([[Eric Rudolph]]) in the [[Centennial Olympic Park bombing]] and other bombings, who remained a fugitive throughout her tenure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/193561.stm|title=BBC News {{!}} Americas {{!}} Fugitive charged with Atlanta bombing|publisher=BBC|access-date=November 7, 2016|archive-date=November 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107230039/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/193561.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Rudolph was apprehended in 2003 and pleaded guilty to the attacks.
* Capture and conviction of [[Mir Qazi]] for the [[1993 shootings at CIA Headquarters]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.justiceatstake.org/diversity/women_in_the_law/janet-reno/|title=Janet Reno – JAS|last=globalreach.com|first=Global Reach Internet Productions, LLC – Ames, IA -|publisher=justiceatstake.org|access-date=November 7, 2016|archive-date=November 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108052014/http://www.justiceatstake.org/diversity/women_in_the_law/janet-reno/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The armed seizure of six-year-old [[Elián González]] and his return to his father, who eventually took him home to Cuba; Elián's mother and stepfather had died in a dangerous trip by sea, and though his U.S. relatives had lost custody to his father in court, local officials did not enforce the ruling.  Reno made the decision to remove Elián González from the house of a relative and return him to his father in Cuba.<ref name="Notable Biographies, Reno" />

=== Clinton administration investigations ===
In 1994, Reno appointed [[Robert B. Fiske|Robert Fiske]] special counsel to investigate Bill Clinton's involvement in [[Whitewater controversy|Whitewater]], a controversy stemming from Clinton's business dealings during his time as Governor of [[Arkansas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/janet-renos-time-attorney-general-filled-difficult-decisions/story?id=43374450|title=Reno's Time as Attorney General Filled With Difficult Decisions|last=ABC News|date=November 9, 2016|publisher=ABC News|access-date=September 1, 2018|archive-date=September 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902012135/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/janet-renos-time-attorney-general-filled-difficult-decisions/story?id=43374450|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WaPo Whitewater Time Line">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/whitewater/timeline.htm|title=Whitewater Time Line|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=September 1, 2018|archive-date=January 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131094948/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/whitewater/timeline.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Fiske wrapped up his criminal investigation within six months, and found no link between Whitewater and the [[Suicide of Vince Foster|suicide]] of former [[White House Counsel|Deputy White House Counsel]] [[Vince Foster]].<ref name="WaPo Whitewater Time Line" /><ref name="NPR, Clinton Vs. Starr">{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123653000 |title='Clinton Vs. Starr': A 'Definitive' Account |work=[[Fresh Air]] |publisher=NPR |access-date=September 1, 2018 |archive-date=September 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902012057/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123653000 |url-status=live }}</ref> Congress reauthorized the investigation and in August 1994, a panel of judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals overseeing the special counsel refused to reappoint Fiske.<ref name="WaPo Whitewater Time Line" /><ref name="NPR, Clinton Vs. Starr" /> The panel considered it a conflict of interest for Fiske to investigate Clinton because Reno, a member of the Clinton Administration, appointed Fiske. Instead, the panel appointed former member of the Reagan and Bush Administrations [[Ken Starr]] to continue the Whitewater investigation.<ref name="WaPo Whitewater Time Line" /> Starr concluded the Whitewater investigation in December 1997 due to insufficient evidence.<ref name="NPR, Clinton Vs. Starr" /> The following month, Starr received permission from Reno to redirect his probe into conduct related to the [[Paula Jones]] and [[Monica Lewinsky]] affairs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/resources/lewinsky/timeline/|title=A Chronology: Key Moments In The Clinton-Lewinsky Saga|website=www.cnn.com|access-date=September 1, 2018|archive-date=February 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226230732/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/resources/lewinsky/timeline/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1998/nov/18/clinton.usa|title=Clinton impeachment timeline|last=Barkham|first=Patrick|date=November 19, 1998|website=The Guardian|access-date=September 1, 2018|archive-date=February 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228133624/http://www.theguardian.com/world/1998/nov/18/clinton.usa|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Starr Report|Starr's Report]], issued in September 1998, listed eleven grounds for impeachment against Clinton.

In 1998, the [[United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform|House Government Reform and Oversight Committee]], in a party line vote, voted to recommend the House cite Reno for [[contempt of Congress]] for not turning over two internal Justice Department memos related to a campaign finance controversy during the impeachment of [[President of the United States|President]] [[Bill Clinton]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1033815 |title=CONTEMPT? |date=August 6, 1998 |work=[[All Things Considered]] |publisher=[[NPR]] |access-date=September 1, 2018 |archive-date=September 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902052243/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1033815 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":15">{{cite news|title=Reno Cited For Contempt|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/08/07/reno-cited-for-contempt/|last=Bendavid|first=Naftali|date=August 7, 1998|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|access-date=September 1, 2018|archive-date=September 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902012120/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1998-08-07/news/9808070057_1_gen-janet-reno-contempt-miss-reno|url-status=live}}</ref> Reno contended she refused to turn over the documents sought because the documents would reveal prosecutor strategy in an ongoing investigation.<ref name=":15" /> Reno argued that her actions were in defense of the principle that prosecutors should be free of political influence.<ref name=":15" /> The full House of Representatives never voted on the resolution and the documents were turned over to the House.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/gallery/2012/06/10-politicians-threatened-with-contempt/000217-002701.html|title=10 politicians threatened with contempt – 6 of 10|website=www.politico.com|access-date=September 1, 2018|archive-date=September 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902084217/https://www.politico.com/gallery/2012/06/10-politicians-threatened-with-contempt/000217-002701.html|url-status=live}}</ref>