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

DATE: TUESDAY, December 14, 1993                   TAG: 9312140149
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: PHYLLIS W. JORDAN LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

FEDERAL COMMISSION DROPS ROBB PROBE

Despite evidence that four Virginia Republicans violated U.S. election laws by funding an investigation into U.S. Sen. Charles Robb, federal officials have closed the five-year-old case without pursuing charges.

The Federal Election Commission announced Monday that it was dropping 137 "stale" and "insignificant" cases, including the 1988 complaint about a probe into the Virginia Democrat's personal life.

Among the other cases that were closed were complaints involving George Bush's 1988 presidential campaign, Sens. Alfonse D'Amato of New York and David Durenberger of Minnesota, and banker Charles Keating, a key figure in the savings and loan scandal.

In many cases, some dating back more than seven years, the FEC acknowledged it had found "reason to believe" violations occurred but took no action.

In Robb's case, the senator's staff maintained that Republican foes were paying Virginia Beach investigator Billy Franklin for his work, and that the $100,000 in investigator's fees should be considered a campaign contribution to the GOP.

FEC documents, disclosed for the first time Monday, essentially supported many of Robb's contentions about Republican involvement in the probe. They also reveal a strategy aimed not only at the 1988 Senate race, but also at any future Robb might consider in presidential politics.

The documents show that party leaders recruited investigator Franklin for the job and delivered envelopes full of cash to the Richmond physician who was officially funding the probe.

They also solicited money for the investigation at a GOP gathering.

by CNB