The tapes show President Clinton hosting coffees in the White House for major contributors in 1995-96. Justice Department officials want to know where the tapes have been, who knew about them and whether they were intentionally withheld. The White House says the videotapes were discovered last Wednesday. Attorney General Janet Reno was told about them Saturday, the day after she rejected calls for an independent counsel. One tape shows Clinton meeting contributors in the Oval Office.
Republicans say that violates a ban on fund-raising on government property.
Word of the expanded probe came on a day of heightened furor on Capitol Hill. Thompson also wants Clinton to join the GOP push for a special prosecutor. Meanwhile, the proposed campaign finance reform bill went into legislative limbo after Senate Republicans blocked a vote on it.