Janet Reno, the first woman to serve as U.S. attorney general, who played key roles in some of the most acrimonious events of the Clinton administration, died early Monday at the age of 78. Ms. Reno died at her longtime home in Miami-Dade County, Fla., of complications related to Parkinson’s disease, from which she had suffered for more than 20 years, said her sister, Maggy Hurchalla. She spent her final days surrounded by loved ones, receiving visitors and messages from admirers. “It has been the greatest outpouring of love,” Ms. Hurchalla said.
During eight years as attorney general under President Bill Clinton—the longest tenure of the 20th century—Ms. Reno earned praise for her bluntness and independence, but faced criticism for her handling of some high-profile controversies. Shortly after taking office in 1993, she approved a Federal Bureau of Investigation raid on a cult compound in Waco, Texas, led by David Koresh. In the assault, which followed a weekslong standoff, about 75 people died, including many children. Ms. Reno later expressed regret for having authorized the offensive and said she took responsibility for the loss of life. In the ensuing years, she oversaw numerous prominent Justice Department cases, including the 1997 conviction of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols for the Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 people.
“Throughout her tenure, marked by high-profile, complicated cases, Janet was unflappable, never losing her candor, sense of humor, or love of kayaking on the Potomac,” said President Barack Obama in a statement Monday. She “was an American original.”
RIP
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