AFL-CIO President John Sweeney has issued a strong statement of support for Labor Secretary Alexis Herman in the wake the Justice Dept.'s call May 13 for appointment of a special independent prosecutor to investigate allegations of influence peddling and violation of campaign-finance laws against her.
"For the past year and a half," Sweeney said, "Alexis Herman has been a powerful and unflappable advocate for America's working families, just as we predicted when she was nominated. She is an extraordinary asset to the struggles of working women and men for fairness and equality, and an important member of a consistently pro-worker Administration.
"Throughout the Justice Dept. inquiry, the Secretary has kept the Labor Dept. moving in the face of distractions that would have hobbled a lesser person. I am confident that she will continue to do so."
The call for an independent counsel is the seventh such request made by Attorney General Janet Reno to probe a top official in the Clinton Administration.
