Most cases now in the courts involve allegations that were made before the 1980's.
The earlier cases involved allegations of kickbacks paid to senior officials in two weapons deals.
The other case also involved allegations of a killing by people involved in the drug trade.
Newspaper and broadcast reports said the inquiry involved allegations of sexual misconduct.
Cases involving such allegations are a staple of Federal enforcement activities in the division he would lead.
He would not say whether the inquiry involved allegations of espionage.
But he soon acknowledged that the matters involved allegations about illegal communications.
About 25 percent of the complaints involved allegations of assaults by the police.
The trial will be a long one partly because it involves allegations that cover a five-year period.
The second case involves allegations from an incident four days after the events in the current trial.
