European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 05, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday october 1994 c-.-". I Espy probe Washington a the criminal investigation of agriculture Secretary Mike Espy will not be slowed by his resignation and May expand to include a scholarship Given his Girlfriend says the Independent counsel conducting the probe. Our plate keeps getting bigger with a revelation that keep coming out Donald c. Smaltz the court appointed Independent counsel said in an interview monday after Espy announced he is quitting dec 31. Espy said he has become distracted from his of by the investigation into gifts he received from individuals and firms doing business with his Agency. I must personally overcome the Challenge to my Good name Espy 40, told a news conference. He waste first Black and the youngest person to serve As Agri culture Secretary. Regardless of the Legai outcome for Espy his Resig nation under a Cloud presents another headache for president Clinton. The president is contending with the ongoing probe of his Arkansas business dealings a sex Ual harassment suit by a former Arkansas state worker and recalcitrant republicans who have bottled up key. Parts of his legislative program. Espy becomes the second Clinton Cabinet member to resign following former defense Secretary Les Aspin. _ a Smaltz appointed to investigate Espy on sept 9, Al ready has a half dozen Fri agents working for Nim and is hiring a staff of attorneys. Asked if the resignation would affect his investigation he replied not in the a senior administration official speaking on Condi Tion of anonymity said an internal White House probe uncovered a new Issue in the Case the awarding of a $1,200 scholarship by a Tyson foods inc. Foundation the stars and stripes Page 5 Widen counsel says to Espy s Girlfriend Patricia Dempsey. The official said Dempsey Nas r turned the Money. Smaltz said in the interview that he Yas not previously aware of the scholarship tout added we re very interested in Tyson the Arkansas based Chicken magnate has longtime ties to Clinton and its business is affected greatly by agriculture department food safety Espy s announcement Clinton commented although Secretary Espy has said he has done nothing wrong i am troubled by the appearance of some of these incidents Jand believe his decision to leave is Espy a former democratic House member from Mississippi was praised by former congressional col leagues. Sen. Patrick Leahy d-vt., chairman of the Senate agriculture committee called Espy s commit ment to Rural americans unsurpassed and greatly a . John Conyers d-mich., chairman of the House government operations committee said he was stunned because i had been assured the matters under investigation were so trivial they hardly War ranted the scrutiny they were a possible list of successors includes Ruth Harkin head of the overseas private investment corp. And wife of sen. T6m Harkin a Iowa Bob Nash an a Kansas Friend of Clinton s and now undersecretary for Small Community and Rural development and rep. Jill Long d-ind., a member of the House agriculture include rep. Dan Glickman d-kan., a farm state lawmaker Deputy agriculture Secretary Richard e. Rominger a former head of California s agriculture. Izui Iulg i a 1vjii1iv Rivau Jiw Ivy � � ,. and rep. Mike Synar d-okla., who has agriculture Secretary Mike Espy holding a news Confer a u j
