Labor secretary invites investigation

Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan, ''sick and tired of being bludgeoned'' by charges of his involvement with union corruption, wants a special prosecutor to be named to ''determine the truth once and for all.''

The secretary asked that a special prosecutor, armed with subpoena power and the right to convene a grand jury, be named immediately.

There has been a preliminary FBI investigation into the charges of corruption surrounding Donovan's old construction company. Under the Ethics in Government Act, Attorney General William French Smith must ask a special three-judge federal panel in Washington to appoint a special prosecutor if he concludes charges involving a top federal official are not frivolous.

Smith is already expected to ask for a special prosecutor this week.