[David Barrett] had been named by a House panel's investigators as one of the GOP lawyers who used influence and connections to win housing contracts during the Reagan administration. However, he was never charged with any wrongdoing. Rep. Tom Lantos (D-San Mateo) denounced the choice, saying Barrett had "clearly benefited from influence- peddling at HUD." He likened it to "appointing the well-fed fox to investigate the missing hens at the chicken coop." But there were no congressional hearings or FBI background interviews required of independent counsels.

Barrett then brought an 18-count indictment against [Henry G. Cisneros] and separate indictments against two of his aides at HUD, Sylvia Arce- Garcia and John Rosales. He alleged that they had conspired to cover up Cisneros' payments to his mistress.

Before leaving office, [Clinton] pardoned Cisneros for his offense. A few months later, [David Sentelle]'s panel gave Barrett a green light to continue his probe.