Mr. Specter also wants to look into how the Justice Department handled allegations of Chinese spying at American nuclear facilities, another source of friction between the FBI and the Justice Department. Two years ago, the FBI sought a search warrant for the computer of Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist Wen Ho Lee. The Justice Department, with Ms. Reno's concurrence, refused, saying the evidence did not justify the warrant. Republicans jumped on that refusal after Mr. Lee was accused of spying this year. Mr. Lee has denied the allegations, and the Justice Department has yet to charge him with anything.
China denies spying.
Branch Davidians Differences between the Justice Department and the FBI also underscore new investigations of the Branch Davidian episode. They began after the FBI acknowledged it fired two pyrotechnic devices that day, something it had denied for more than six years. The disclosure enraged Ms. Reno, who had made similar denials based on FBI assurances. The House Government Reform Committee is looking into whether any other pyrotechnics were used, whether federal agents shot at anybody, and the precise role of the military. Mr. Specter said his Senate task force also plans to look at Waco.