Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 18, 1993                   TAG: 9307180128
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

QUIT OR BE FIRED, FBI CHIEF TOLD CLINTON ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED SOON ON CHOICE

The source, a law enforcement official who asked not to be identified, was not in the meeting, but understood that such an ultimatum was given to Sessions.

The 63-year-old Sessions clearly was distracted as he left the half-hour meeting: He tripped over a curb just outside the Justice Department gate as he strode briskly away, flanked by an aide on each side.

He got up quickly and continued on his way, but FBI spokesman John Collingwood said the director broke two bones in his elbow and a family friend said later that Sessions was to stay overnight in a hospital.

Sessions' ability to complete the second half of his 10-year term has been in doubt since January when the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility accused him of ethical lapses.

But until Saturday, the apparent certainty of his ouster had not been put so bluntly to him by Clinton's representatives.

A senior administration official said Clinton had decided to replace Sessions but still wanted "to find a graceful exit" for him because Clinton was concerned that some of the allegations seemed baseless.

Clinton met Friday night at the White House with U.S. District Judge Louis Freeh of New York, reportedly a leading contender for the FBI post, said the senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

But, the official said: "Don't assume it's a done deal."

There will be an announcement on a new FBI director soon, but not necessarily over the weekend, the official said.

Sessions arrived late to Saturday's meeting, leaving Attorney General Janet Reno, Deputy Attorney General Philip Heymann, Associate Attorney General Webster Hubbell and White House Counsel Bernard Nussbaum waiting for a half hour.

Asked what he expected, Sessions said on his way in, "I think it's probably no secret."

He said he would not offer to resign, and when reminded he has said previously he would do so if Clinton asked him, he responded, "I'm not going to get into that."

He referred all questions to Reno, who had her secretary deliver a "no comment" to reporters waiting outside her office. Sessions gave the same response in person.