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American Morning

Thumbs Up from Senate Judiciary Committee for Robert Mueller to Head FBI

Aired August 02, 2001 - 10:38   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Right now, let's just check in on Washington and our Jeanne Meserve, who's been keeping an eye on some Senate confirmation hearings. We've already seen one thumbs up -- rather thumbs down so far.

What's next, Jeanne?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we just got a thumbs up from the Senate Judiciary Committee for Robert Mueller to head the FBI. His nomination was embraced by both Democrats and Republicans. That nomination now moves on to the full Senate.

Joining me here is Chitra Ragavan, who is a senior writer for "U.S. News & World Report." Thanks a lot for coming in.

CHITRA RAGAVAN, "U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT": My pleasure.

MESERVE: We know now how the U.S. Senate feels about Robert Mueller, in a very official way. how is nomination viewed from within the FBI?

RAGAVAN: I think they're keeping an open mind. He is outsider. He's never been an FBI agent, the way former director Louis Freeh was. I think when his name was floated by the administration, I heard FBI sources say, well, is there anyone else out there, who is a bigger name, for instance.

Mr. Mueller is considered to be a very straightforward, stand-up kind of guy, and I think the FBI will respect that tremendously. He is very high on technology. He's very good with computer issues, and that's something that is increasingly facing the FBI.

MESERVE: Is he going to have to deal with morale issues within the FBI?

RAGAVAN: Definitely. I think in the last few months, there has been tremendous soul-searching on the part of agents and senior officials at the FBI because of this wave of scandals and controversies that the FBI has been engulfed in. There have been tremendous numbers -- there have been five investigations so far. Every week it seems there is a new internal investigation launched, and Mueller is going to have to do own top-to-bottom review, so you're going to see a lot question being asked, as to which way the agency this should head.

HARRIS: What is the biggest problem looming for him on the horizon?

RAGAVAN: Well, he's got some short-term issues, and he's got a long-term problem. Let's talk about the long-term problem that is the most difficult for him that is changing the culture of the FBI. The Bureau's critics say that it is a very secretive agency, unwilling to come up with documents, unwilling to be forthcoming, and that time and time again, you've seen that in Waco and Ruby Ridge, and how he changes that is going to be the big question. He's made a "buck stops here" pledge. We'll see if he can make good on that.

MESERVE: Well, in an agency like the FBI, secrecy is something that's essential. So it's fine to navigate?

RAGAVAN: That's right. And you saw a little bit of that tension this week, during the committee vote process, when Senator Specter, the Republican from Pennsylvania, asked, will you be forthcoming with documents? And he said, in many instances, yes, but sometimes, I'm going to have to consult with Attorney General John Ashcroft.

MESERVE: Is there one thing in his favor as he steps into the job, presuming he gets through the rest of the confirmation process?

RAGAVAN: Bipartisan support on the Hill. That's a big plus. His experience as a prosecutor. He's a veteran Justice Department official, a former U.S. attorney from San Francisco. He ran the criminal division under Bush Sr., so he knows what it takes to be a prosecutor and how to bring forward cases. With director Freeh, he also was a prosecutor, however, he always clashed with the Justice Department's criminal division.

MESERVE: Chitra Ragavan, "U.S. News & World Report," thanks so much for joining us here today. And once again, Robert Mueller winning confirmation from the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning.

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