Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 17, 1993 TAG: 9301170106
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The New York Times
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
FBI CHIEF TRIED TO EVADE TAXES, JUSTICE REPORT SAYS
A Justice Department ethics inquiry has found that FBI Director William Sessions engaged in a "sham arrangement" to avoid paying taxes on the unofficial use of his government limousine, administration officials said Saturday. They also said he refused to cooperate with an investigation into whether he received special favors on his home mortgage.Outgoing Attorney General William P. Barr also concluded that Sessions had used his FBI aircraft for personal trips, sometimes adding on brief government meetings to make it appear the trips were intended for legitimate business. Barr directed Sessions to repay the government for at least three of the trips, the officials said.
The findings of the inquiry were outlined in a harshly worded memorandum sent to Sessions on Friday by Barr. In it, Barr denounced Sessions, saying the director had evaded internal rules that were stringently applied against his own agents.
Associates of Sessions disputed some of Barr's findings, and expressed bitterness that Barr had refused to give Sessions a copy of the report on which the attorney general based his memorandum. The memorandum did not specify disciplinary action but asked Sessions to take remedial steps, including reimbursement and changing his administrative practices, officials said.
Barr's memorandum was an extraordinary expression of his lack of confidence in Sessions, who in recent weeks asserted that he had done nothing wrong and expected to be exonerated.
Sessions is now at the midpoint of a 10-year term and has said he intends to serve to the end of his tenure. He could not immediately be reached for comment.