Clinton Asked to Name Prosecutor in Rocky Flats Case
DENVER — Members of a federal grand jury on Wednesday asked President-elect Bill Clinton to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate alleged environmental crimes at the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant.
Wes McKinley, foreman of a federal grand jury impaneled in 1989 to review allegations of violations by the Energy Department and its contractors at Rocky Flats, made public a letter signed by 12 members asking for Clinton’s help.
Rocky Flats, located northwest of Denver, is the nation’s only plant that produces plutonium triggers for nuclear weapons. Plutonium operations were halted in December, 1989, because of environmental and safety concerns.
The grand jury, after 2 1/2 years of hearing testimony and reviewing evidence, wanted to indict eight people and two corporations involved with Rocky Flats.
U.S. Atty. Michael Norton refused to sign the indictments and worked out a plea bargain with the plant’s former operator, Rockwell International. Rockwell pleaded guilty to 10 counts and was fined $18.5 million in March.
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