President Clinton reportedly wants to replace embattled FBI Director William Sessions with a Massachusetts judge and longtime friend.
The Boston Globe and The Wall Street Journal said Tuesday that the president's top choice is Superior Court Judge Richard C. Stearns, who met Clinton in 1968 when both were Rhodes scholars at Oxford University.The newspapers said Stearns has met with White House officials to discuss the job.
Sessions, accused of ethics violations, will probably be asked to resign soon, the newspapers said, citing unidentified government sources.
However, the Journal said Sessions would not be removed until the three-week armed standoff in Waco, Texas, is resolved.
Only the president can replace the FBI director. Clinton spokesman George Stephanopolous said Monday there were no immediate plans to remove Sessions.
The Justice Department said Attorney General Janet Reno had not yet made a recommendation to Clinton on the allegations against Session.
A Jan. 15 Justice Department report accused Sessions of misusing his office. Among other things, he has been accused of ordering staff members to do private work for him and using government transportation for private trips.