FUND-RAISING PROBES

By Elaine Shannon/Washington

FBI director LOUIS FREEH tried hard to talk Attorney General JANET RENO out of closing the criminal investigation into fund-raising telephone calls by President Clinton and Vice President Gore--but not because he believes that either could ever be prosecuted for soliciting money from the White House. Freeh's fear, according to knowledgeable federal sources, is that once the investigation is closed, FBI agents will be hamstrung in their ability to pursue other, potentially more serious questions about fund-raising activities by Clinton or Gore. Justice lawyers have insisted that FBI agents cannot fish around in the affairs of high-level officials unless there is an open investigation and "predication," meaning a specific basis for believing that the person under scrutiny may have broken a law. The dialing-for-dollars case had provided the FBI with a hook to ask extensive questions about fund raising by Clinton and Gore.

Now that Reno seems on the verge of closing that inquiry, FBI officials are worried that Justice lawyers will return to micromanaging agents' information-gathering forays that touch on the conduct of Clinton, Gore and other senior figures. Ultimately, FBI officials warn, the fundamental question of the affair--Was there an overarching scandal to violate campaign laws?--may go unresolved.

Justice officials counter that what the FBI regards as micromanaging is good stewardship of the Constitution--and that the bureau is really seeking unbridled power to probe anyone for any reason. "It's a little bit chilling," says a Justice aide.

--By Elaine Shannon/Washington