WASHINGTON, DC (CWNews.com) - The Clinton administration Justice Department last week refused a request by Republican senators to investigate a left-wing group that attacks involvement of religion in public life.

    Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Keeney said in a letter that the department found no voter intimidation involved in efforts by Americans United for Separation of Church and State to warn churches they were jeopardizing their tax status by participating in Christian Coalition voter registration drives.

    Last July, six Senate Republicans, including Sens. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, and Paul Coverdell of Georgia, asked Attorney General Janet Reno to launch a criminal investigation into whether Americans United had violated citizens' rights to vote by "intimidating people of faith into not participating in the political process."

    The Clinton administration, including the Internal Revenue Service, the Justice Department, and the Federal Election Commission, has not hesitated to investigate numerous conservative groups that disagree with administration policies. The Christian Coalition, the Rutherford Institute, and other groups have been the targets of investigation and administrative judgements.