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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 3, 1994                   TAG: 9402030219
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

U.S. WON'T PROSECUTE FOR SEARCH OF FILES

The Justice Department will not prosecute anyone for a search of the personnel files of 160 Bush administration appointees at the State Department. The search already had cost two employees their jobs.

John Russell, spokesman for Justice's criminal division, said Wednesday that the State Department inspector general's office was notified of the decision Monday.

State's Inspector General Sherman Funk had referred the case in November to the Justice Department for possible prosecution.

Secretary of State Warren Christopher fired two low-ranking officials - both Democratic activists - in November for searching the files.

The 160 Bush appointees all were temporarily retained by the Clinton administration. Their files contained judgments about their work performance. Public disclosure of the contents is a violation of the Privacy Act.

- Associated Press

by CNB