Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno Has Died

Janet Reno, the first woman to serve as U.S. attorney general, died early on Monday. She was 78.

Reno passed away from complications due to Parkinson's disease, according to her goddaughter Gabrielle D'Alemberte. Reno spent her final days at home in Miami surrounded by family and friends.

Reno, as you may recall, was at several political storms during the Clinton administration, including the seizure of Elian Gonzalez.

Earlier in her tenure she faced criticism for the deadly raid on the Branch Davidian compound at Waco, Texas where sect leader David Koresh and some 80 followers perished.

After Waco, Reno was in the middle of several more controversies and scandals that marked the Clinton administration, including Whitewater, Filegate, Monica Lewinsky, alleged Chinese nuclear spying and questionable financing in the 1996 Clinton-Gore re-election.

Reno would go on to make an unsuccessful run for governor of her home state of Florida in 2002.

After retiring from politics, Reno served on boards or as an adviser for several organizations.

She also spent more time with her family. Reno never married but remained extremely tightknit with her family.