What Did Eric Holder Know and When Did He Know It? 1997

June 6, 1997
3801 Connecticut Avenue, NW
#136
Washington, DC 20008-4530

Charles F.C. Ruff, Esq.
Counsel to the President
The White House
Washington, DC 20006

RE: FREEDMAN V. D.C. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS D.C. COURT OF APPEALS NO. 96-CV-961

Dear Mr. Ruff:

This will advise you, as a courtesy, of the status of the above-referenced appeal. The District of Columbia Superior Court proceedings below, Freedman v. D.C. Department of Human Rights, no. MPA 95-14, was defended by the District of Columbia Office of Corporation Counsel during your tenure.

The matter in controversy raises issues that may relate in an ancillary way to possible concerns of the White House Counsel.

Additionally, the appeal may carry media interest and relate to matters of public concern. Some time ago, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union advised me that I might want to go public with this matter.

You may find it useful to review this matter with FBI Supervisory Special Agent David M. Bowie, Washington Field Office, (202) 252-7801.

Sincerely,

Gary Freedman

Enclosures:

(1.) Letter to U.S. Secret Service (Philip C. Leadroot, S.A.) dated February 20, 1996 (first page only)
(2.) Letter to U.S. Attorney Eric H. Holder, Jr., dated December 23, 1996
(3.) Motion for an Extension of Time in which to file brief, dated June 5, 1997

cc: Charles L. Reischel, Esq., Deputy Corporation Counsel
The Washington Post

[Prior to assuming his position as Treasury Dept. General Counsel under Secretary Robert E. Rubin, Edward S. Knight was an Akin Gump partner. The following is a hypothetical scenario that is not meant to depict any known actions of Treasury Department officials or employees.]

February 20, 1996
3801 Connecticut Ave., NW
#136
Washington, DC 20008-4530

Philip C. Leadroot
Special Agent
U.S. Secret Service
Washington Field Office

Dear Mr. Leadroot:

I want to assure the U.S. Secret Service that I have not discussed matters pertinent to your investigation with any news organizations.

I want to point out, however, than an enterprising journalist could make a story out of facts contained in letters that I have already supplied to you. The facts of my case might conceivably give rise to a story such as the following, though other, perhaps more realistic (though no less embarrassing) stories are also possible.

The New York Times

Tabloids Report Clinton Friends Shield Mental Patient; Rubin Denies Secret Service Protected Strauss Firm

A spokesman for Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin today refused to comment on news stories--reported in the tabloid press--that the Secret Service, at Rubin's direction, limited the scope of an investigation into a possible Presidential security threat in order to shield Rubin's long-time friend, Robert S. Strauss.

The investigation concerned the activities of a man, described as severely disturbed, who wrote a series of ominous letters to the Secret Service and other federal agencies that referred to President Clinton.

The man, known only as Anonymous, had been an employee of the Washington law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, founded by Robert S. Strauss, former Ambassador to Russia. Strauss has been a close personal friend of Rubin's for many years.

Strauss, contacted at Akin Gump's Washington Office, refused to comment.

The tabloid press has raised questions in recent days about whether Strauss may have asked his long-time friend and confidant Rubin to order the Secret Service to limit the scope of the investigation, reportedly because any publicity concerning a full investigation might open a "hornet's

IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURT OF APPEALS

No. 96-CV-961

GARY FREEDMAN,
Appellant,
v.
D.C. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS,
Appellee.

MOTION FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME IN WHICH TO FILE BRIEF

The District of Columbia, on behalf of its Department of Human Rights, respectfully requests leave to file its brief in this case on or before July 25, 1997. Appellant consents to this extension. Due to staff commitments, the Appellate Division has been unable to free the resources necessary to work on this case.

Furthermore, because we have a heavy argument schedule in June, we will be unable to complete and file our brief in this fact-intensive case until July.

Respectfully submitted,

JO ANNE ROBINSON
Interim Corporation Counsel, D.C.

/s/

6/5/97

CHARLES L. REISCHEL, #116681
Deputy Corporation Counsel
Appellate Division

Office of the Corporation Counsel
441 Fourth Street, N..
One Judiciary Square
Washington, D.C. 20001
Tel: 727-6252, Ext. 3301