Sources also tell me that the investigation of this Independent Counsel, Donald Smaltz, is likely to soon result in charges although none are expected to be lodged against President Bill Clinton. One source was told the filing of charges was "imminent" although a second took issue with that word.
The target of the charges is not known.
The probe being conducted by Smaltz is centered on allegations that former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy received sports tickets, lodging and travel from Tyson Foods, one of Arkansas biggest employers and a major supporter of Bill Clinton.
Espy, who quit the agriculture post in 1994, has denied any wrongdoing. But he did repay more than $7,600 while he was under investigation by the White House counsel, the Office of Government Ethics and Smaltz's office.
Smaltz's crew has been working very quietly out of office in Alexandria, Va. and has received little notice in the press. In fact, much of the media doesn't even realize that the Espy/Tyson probe is continuing, that a grand jury is still hearing evidence and that the investigation seems to be spreading beyond some penny ante graft.
The profile of Smaltz's investigation is in direct contrast with that of Kenneth Starr, the special prosecutor whose investigation of the Whitewater development project in Arkansas has been closely followed by the press.
One of the last times Smaltz's name came up in the press was two years ago when a pilot for Tyson Foods named Joe Henrickson said publicly - and presumably testified before a grand jury investigating Tyson - that he ferried cash payments from the chicken king to then Governor Bill Clinton.
Henrickson alleged that the envelopes he delivered were a quarter inch thick, and when he held them up to the light they appeared to be filled with $100 bills.
At one point, it was reported in newspapers that Smaltz and Henrickson were spotted sharing a cab after they left the grand jury hearing room in Washington. People keeping track of this case took that to mean that Smaltz believed what Henrickson was saying.
Now the Post has learned that the Smaltz probe may be close to indictments and that the scope of the investigation seems to be widening beyond Henrickson's accussations and the Espy matter - although the case appears to be nowhere near as broad as that of Starr's. (Henrickson is also believed to have been questioned by Starr's investigators.)
Investigators attached to Smaltz office were in Arkansas recently questioning witnesses about the relationship between Don Tyson, who retired unexpectedly as chairman of his company a year ago, and Bill Clinton.
Tyson is now "senior chairman" of the company and is said to still be handling day-to-day operations of the company. He has also moved his primary residence to Florida, because, Schaffer says, there's a "lot more marlin off Florida than in the coastal waters off Arkansas." Tyson is known to be an avid deep sea fisherman.
Back in the 1980s, a number of Wall Street types who got in trouble moved to Florida because that state affords more protection against confiscation of personal property, including homes, in the event of legal problems. Schaffer said this wasn't the reason for Tyson's move, which he says was undertaken a couple of years ago.
Schaffer said Tyson Foods hasn't been contacted by Smaltz's office lately and "things seem to be very quiet." He added that "we haven't been notified as to any change in our status. I'm sure it's still an active investigation."
A source in Arkansas who met with the Smaltz investigators, one who was assigned by the FBI to assist Smaltz and the other who is attached to the Inspector General's Office, asked about Tyson's relationship with Clinton during the 30 minute meeting.
The investigators were told about visits Clinton had made to Tyson's house in Little Rock, Ark. on at least two occasions. "They just took down the information," says the source, who added that the investigators didn't indicate why they cared.
But later the investigators confided to the source that indictments were "imminent" and that the probe was centering around violations of Federal racketeering laws and statutes that make it a crime to coax public officials to become dishonest.
The probers also confided to my source that an undersecretary at the agriculture department says that a visit to Tyson was necessary before being picked for the job. Candidates had to "kiss his ring" before being named to positions.
Schaffer scoffed at the idea. "That's preposterous and absolutely not true as far as I know. The only one who met with Tyson before being appointed to a post at the Agriculture Department was Mike Espy." And he said that meeting came at the insistence of a friend, not Clinton.
The investigators didn't tell my source who might be indicted or specificaly what the charges would be.
Early on, everyone expected Smaltz to wrap up his investigation quickly. But Smaltz himself told Time magazine in early 1995 that his probe didn't look like it would be over before this year.
Smaltz's office wouldn't comment about any of this.
But someone familiar with the investigation said the word "imminent" was "a little strong" and that no decision had yet been made by Smaltz on what to charge with what. He said that Smaltz is working on a number of things "where they are ready to make decisions."
But once the process begins, that person says the situation would develop rapidly and Smaltz would try to stay as low key as possible. While this sources said there was no decision on whether to use the racketeering statutes in Federal law against anyone, there was a possibility of charges Section 1346 of the penal code.
The racketeering laws have generally been used against organized crime. Section 1346 involves "deprivation of right to honest services," which experts say could be used against someone who corrupts a public official.
(John Crudele is a financial columnist with the New York Post. His mailing address is P.O. Box 610, Lincroft, N.J. 07738. Click here to send him e-mail).