“Here’s a theory: (FBI Director) Louis Freeh has

photographs of key Republican

congressmen in compromising

positions with young boys.

What else could explain his J.

Edgar Hoover-esque immunity

on Capitol Hill?” The thesis is that Republicans bypass criticism of Freeh — e.g. for the pursuit of Wen Ho Lee — to get at Janet Reno at every opportunity. Because, since Watergate, the FBI has been insulated structurally from the Administration (the FBI director serves a ten-year term and can only be removed for cause), Freeh has been free to “cultivate his Republican paymasters”, in particular charming Sens. Orrin Hatch and Arlen Spector, using “leaks” to publicize FBI conflicts with Reno and the Dept. of Justice to use them for political gain.

Freeh’s invincibility depends heavily on Reno’s weakness. A

different attorney general might not have tolerated such

contrariness from the FBI. But Reno dislikes conflict, is

uninterested in political gamesmanship, and is willing to play

fall gal in cases embarrassing to the DOJ and the FBI. She

doesn’t want to alienate Freeh—they reportedly have a very

cordial private relationship. And unlike Freeh, she lacks a

power base on Capitol Hill, because she has never cultivated

legislators. Republicans have made Freeh her foil: Reno’s lack

of support and perceived incompetence make him gleam.

Freeh and his FBI profit from their alliance with the Hill and

the press. They escape interference by the AG and the

president, and they increase their budget. But the country pays

a price. The FBI has become a congressional tool. As the Lee

probe suggests, agents may be more inclined to pursue

investigations that interest Hill legislators. And the FBI now

functions as a congressional bludgeon against an unpopular

attorney general.

Slate