February 25, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H619 against anyone conducting legitimate team of Democrat and Republicans, a Independent counsel Donald Pierson, investigations. The President’s attor- bipartisan group of career prosecutors. of the Ron Brown investigation, his in- neys and friends have attacked and de- Last year, we learned these same pri- vestigation was turned over to the Jus- monized everyone who has conducted vate investigators investigated Okla- tice Department, which has now in- investigations of the President or homa Senator DON NICKLES’ wife, and I dicted DNC fund-raisers Nora and Gene members of his administration. believe other Members who have been Lum, as well as Ron Brown’s son, Mi- When FBI director Louis Freeh called investigating the White House have chael Brown. for an independent counsel, the White had private investigators looking into And consider this: In the campaign House staff started maligning him in them and their past as well. And I be- finance investigation which I am con- the press and trying to undermine one lieve that is being done to intimidate ducting, over 70 people have taken the of the Nation’s chief law enforcement those who are trying to get the truth Fifth Amendment or fled the country. officials. The President allowed these out. This is not a history of the most eth- attacks. Senators, both Democrats and Re- ical administration in history. It is not Independent counsel Donald Smaltz, publicans, attacked the actions that even close. who has obtained six guilty pleas and were taken against DON NICKLES’ wife Just in the past few weeks, Attorney six convictions and millions recovered in last fall’s Senate hearings. This sug- General Reno called for an appoint- in fines from wrongdoers, testified be- gests an effort to intimidate and si- ment of an independent counsel regard- fore my Committee on Government Re- lence both investigators and witnesses. ing Secretary Babbitt at the Depart- form and Oversight and was compared That is just wrong. If we are trying to ment of the Interior regarding actions by one of my Democrat colleagues to a get the facts out to the American peo- with Indian tribes who are large DNC Nazi. Such mindless attacks are un- ple, as investigators looking into ille- donors. All of this has come to pass be- precedented and the Washington Post gal activities, or alleged illegal activi- cause of the actions of the President even attacked this senseless smear. ties, we should not be intimidated, or and his appointees. The Clinton White House has at- there should be no attempt to intimi- The attacks on Ken Starr should tacked every committee chairman who date us in doing our job. And that goes stop. The President has had five inde- has conducted investigations: Senator for Mr. Starr as well. pendent counsels appointed by his At- THOMPSON, who conducted the Senate In his various positions, Mr. Starr torney General. Some of his closest campaign finance investigation; the had to go through the confirmation friends have been convicted of serious gentleman from Iowa (Mr. JIM LEACH), process; and never, never was his integ- crimes and others have taken the Fifth when he conducted the Whitewater in- rity put into question by anybody, Amendment or fled the country. In- vestigation here in the House; Senator Democrat or Republican. When he was stead of attacking Mr. Starr, the Presi- D’AMATO, when he conducted the Sen- appointed independent counsel, he was dent’s lawyers, associates and friends ate Whitewater investigation; and Mr. almost unanimously applauded as a should be allowing the answers to Clinger, my predecessor, who had ac- fair and seasoned jurist. many legitimate questions to be an- tively participated in many investiga- Ken Starr selected as his legal ethics swered. tions of Republicans as well as Demo- adviser for his office a Mr. Sam Dash, Mr. Speaker, I would like to put into crats. the chief counsel for the Watergate the RECORD four editorials by leading So when we have the Clinton White Committee. Ken Starr has selected a newspapers regarding this because I House once again attacking, this time, team of lawyers who are both Repub- think it is very relevant. So, without Mr. Starr, the independent counsel, it lican and Democrat, yet still the at- objection, I hope you will do that. is predictable and consistent. Instead tack. Why? All of these attacks are de- Let me say one last thing. When we of answering questions, the White signed to do two things: change the had the FBI director before my com- House attacks the questioners, evades subject and delay the investigation. mittee and I asked him if he had ever the press and changes the topic. This has been a pattern and practice of seen scandals before of the magnitude These are all legitimate and nec- the Clinton White House in response to that we were investigating, he said, essary investigations. The Clinton each investigation, whether it be well, as a matter of fact, I have. And I White House does not cooperate with Travelgate, Filegate, Whitewater, the said, could you tell me when that was? investigators to get the truth out; they campaign finance investigation or this He said, when I was investigating orga- attack them. latest scandal. nized crime in New York City. Ken Starr has been doing the work This, after all, was going to be the Now, I am sure he wished he had that the Justice Department has directed most ethical administration in history. comment back, but the fact of the mat- him to do. This attack on Mr. Starr is Yet consider this: Numerous close ter is these scandals are huge, they are extremely misdirected. friends and senior aides of the Presi- out of control, and Mr. Starr should Mr. Starr has had a distinguished dent, such as Webster Hubbell, former not be taken to task because he is try- legal career. He clerked for the Su- Governor Jim Guy Tucker of Arkansas, ing to do his job. preme Court, for Chief Justice Warren and the President’s former business Burger when he first got out of law partners, Jim and Susan McDougal, f school. He served as the chief of staff have been convicted and have served to Attorney General William French prison terms. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Smith during the Reagan administra- Four independent counsels have been PRO TEMPORE tion. He served as solicitor general of appointed by Attorney General Reno, the United States and argued cases on his Attorney General. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without behalf of the United States before the Independent counsel Kenneth Starr objection, the gentleman will be al- Supreme Court. He also served as a has secured 11 guilty pleas, three con- lowed to insert the articles mentioned judge on the D.C. Circuit Court of Ap- victions and two indictments that are but is cautioned that it would be un- peals and has taught constitutional pending. parliamentary to insert articles per- law at New York University Law Independent counsel Donald Smaltz sonally offensive to the President. School. in the Espy investigation over at the There was no objection. Mr. Starr also was called upon by the Agriculture Department has secured f Senate to review Senator Packwood’s six guilty pleas and six convictions diaries when Senator Packwood was with three indictments pending, in- embroiled in an ethics scandal. No one cluding an indictment against former FURTHER MESSAGE FROM THE criticized him when he was involved in Agriculture Secretary Espy. PRESIDENT an investigation of a Republican Sen- Independent counsel David Barrett, A further message in writing from ator. Cisneros investigation, has seven in- the President of the United States was Now we learn that private investiga- dictments pending, including an indict- communicated to the House by Mr. tors, get this, private investigators ment of former HUD Secretary Sherman Williams, one of his secretar- were hired to investigate Mr. Starr’s Cisneros. ies.