White House Denies Wilson Accusation

WASHINGTON — The Clinton Administration denies an assertion by California Gov. Pete Wilson that political concerns were behind disclosure of an immigration investigation into his former maid.

“Was there any political pressure applied to the INS on this case? The answer is no,” Immigration and Naturalization Service spokesman Russ Bergeron said.

“The White House has no earthly idea what Gov. Wilson is referring to,” said presidential spokesman Mike McCurry. “The INS has made very clear that it’s doing exactly what it should do under the law.”

INS officials said Thursday’s revelation that the maid, Josefina Klag, was being investigated was not timed to detract from Wilson’s appearance that night on CNN’s “Larry King Live.”

But Wilson said on the program that he found it “of more than passing curiosity” that word of the probe came the afternoon of the TV appearance in which he sought to tout his candidacy from King’s national stage. “It’s perfectly obvious. They knew I was going to be on this show,” he said.