H3332 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 16, 2018 Congratulations to Coach Irlbeck on Growing up in Whitesboro, Officer tance to ensure that these historic, leg- a much-deserved honor in the Texas Crossley knew almost everyone in the endary, and necessary agencies move High School Basketball Hall of Fame. village. The community loved and forward more respected and effective God bless the Irlbeck family. trusted him. His whole life’s dream was than ever before. Go Bulldogs, and go west Texas. to protect and serve the community Tonight I am joined by my colleagues f and its residents. He arrived at work from across this country, and we will every day with a smile on his face and hear from each and every one of them. RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND a positive attitude. Following these speakers, I will be WORK OF LOU VOLPE Through numerous local and county going into much greater detail on the (Mr. FITZPATRICK asked and was police salutes, community processions, many specifics on why the Attorney given permission to address the House and testimonials from friends and fam- General must immediately appoint a for 1 minute and to revise and extend ily, it is clear how much Officer second special counsel to conduct a his remarks.) Crossley was beloved by his colleagues thorough and independent investiga- Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I and our entire community. Officer tion of our significant concerns. rise today to recognize a pillar of our Crossley’s service, dedication, and love Without any further ado, I yield to community who has had a profound in- for our community was unparalleled, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. fluence on the lives of so many stu- and we cannot thank him enough for GAETZ) who has been a leader in this dents in our community in Bucks his honorable service. cause to fight for justice and equality County and beyond. Law enforcement officers put their under the law. Lou Volpe, who dedicated 44 years of lives on the line every day to ensure Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the service to the students of Harry S. Tru- the safety of our families and our com- gentleman from New York for yielding, man High School in my hometown of munities. We are eternally grateful for and also for leading on the great ques- Levittown, retired in 2013 as its long- their dedication and service to our Na- tion of whether or not we should have time theater director. tion. a second special counsel to evaluate Recently, Lou was inducted into the Officer Kevin Crossley is a hero, and the misconduct of the FBI and the De- Bucks County Playhouse Hall of Fame, the village of Whitesboro and all of us partment of Justice in pursuing un- an event I was honored to attend, join- were blessed by his honorable service founded and inappropriate warrants to ing the likes of Oscar Hammerstein and to us. We offer our deepest condolences spy on a member of the Trump transi- Angela Lansbury, among others. to his family and friends and col- tion team without due process and Throughout his esteemed career, Lou leagues on the loss of a dear friend and without proper protocol. One of the reasons I join the gen- has left an indelible mark on the thou- a wonderful community servant. sands of students he taught. Under his tleman from New York in this call is f leadership, Truman regularly partici- that, currently, the person making pated in the Student Theater Festival APPOINTMENT OF SECOND critical decisions regarding Hillary at the Bucks County Playhouse. SPECIAL COUNSEL NEEDED Clinton and Donald Trump and this A pinnacle of his career included a The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under narrative regarding Russia is Rod coveted invitation to the Thespian Fes- the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- Rosenstein; and I believe Mr. Rosen- tival at the University of Nebraska for uary 3, 2017, the gentleman from New stein has a series of conflicts of inter- est, each of which would independently his production of ‘‘Good Boys and York (Mr. ZELDIN) is recognized for 60 True.’’ minutes as the designee of the major- disqualify him from overseeing this re- view; and yet, he continues. That is Mr. Speaker, fortunately for us, ity leader. troubling to me, and it is one of the Lou’s legacy will live on with the new GENERAL LEAVE NBC TV series ‘‘Rise,’’ of which his reasons why we need to have a second Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask special counsel. tenure at Truman served as an inspira- unanimous consent that all Members tion. In fact, it was Mr. Rosenstein who may have 5 legislative days in which to signed a FISA warrant renewal to spy It is comforting to know that this revise and extend their remarks and in- theatrical brilliance of Lou’s will live on Carter Page. He did this, even clude extraneous material on the topic though the FBI and Department of Jus- on in our community and in our Nation of this Special Order. for decades, and I ask all of my col- tice knew that Christopher Steele, the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there author of the dossier that was the prin- leagues in this House of Representa- objection to the request of the gen- tives, Democrat and Republican, to cipal basis for that warrant had been tleman from New York? deemed uncredible and had said things honor Lou for his incredible service to There was no objection. our community and to our country. that were not true to the FBI. Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I am here Mr. Rosenstein also signed pleadings f tonight to speak out on the urgent seeking to silence a witness who may b 1930 need for the appointment of a second have had information regarding the special counsel in light of evidence sale of uranium to Russians. Mr. HONORING THE LIFE OF OFFICER that raises serious concerns about deci- Rosenstein took no real action against KEVIN CROSSLEY sions, activities, and inherent bias dis- Bruce Ohr, a senior official at the De- (Ms. TENNEY asked and was given played at the highest levels of the De- partment of Justice, even though Mr. permission to address the House for 1 partment of Justice and Federal Bu- Ohr failed to report the facts that his minute and to revise and extend her re- reau of Investigation with regard to wife was moonlighting as a researcher marks.) FISA abuse, how and why the Hillary to dig up dirt on Donald Trump and Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise Clinton email probe ended, and how then commingle that dirt with lies told today to honor Whitesboro Police Offi- and why the Donald Trump Russia by Russians and folks from Hillary cer Kevin Crossley. Officer Crossley probe began. Clinton’s campaign and the DNC. tragically lost his life on Wednesday The concerns of the American public Mr. Rosenstein allowed Bob Mueller night in a car accident while on patrol are serious, and the issues requiring an to pick a biased team, people who had in his hometown in the village of immediate, unbiased, independent, and gone to Hillary Clinton’s election night Whitesboro in Oneida County, New thorough investigation are broad. party, people who had represented the York. Mr. Speaker, the DOJ and FBI can- Clinton Foundation when they had He was a 7-year member of the not be expected to investigate them- been accused of not producing public Whitesboro Police Department, after selves. I acknowledge, with immense documents. Mr. Rosenstein could have being hired full time in 2011, while first gratitude, that nearly every single man stepped in. He could have demanded a serving there as an intern. He also and woman in the DOJ and FBI con- higher standard in the assembly of that worked part time as an officer for the ducts themselves daily with integrity, team, but he didn’t. Whitestown Police Department, and independence, patriotism, objectivity, Mr. Rosenstein wrote a secret memo previously served in the Whitestown and commitment to the rule of law. A to expand the scope of the Russia in- Fire Department. special counsel is of the utmost impor- vestigation. He approved the raid on

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Apr 17, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16AP7.034 H16APPT1 April 16, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3333 Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer. He took I keep saying FISA, but for everyone, Mr. Speaker, I thank all of my distin- no action on criminal referrals well so they should know, it is the Foreign guished colleagues who we have heard laid out by Senators GRASSLEY and Intelligence Surveillance Act, and it is from, and additional colleagues who GRAHAM, Mr. DESANTIS and others, in- why the Clinton probe ended and why will be out here shortly. We are laying dicating that Christopher Steele and the Trump Russia probe began. It ap- out the very important case here to- Glenn Simpson had lied to the FBI and pears that, for political gain, key Fed- night why a second special counsel is potentially had failed to register as eral employees at the FBI and the De- needed with regard to misconduct at agents of a foreign government as they partment of Justice deliberately mis- the highest levels of the DOJ and FBI were seeking to lobby for changes to led our FISA courts and pursued a par- related to FISA abuse; how and why the Magnitsky Act. tisan political agenda. the Hillary Clinton email probe ended; But when Mr. Rosenstein’s own ac- The FISA memo detailing these how and why the Trump Russia probe tion was questioned, when his own pro- abuses of power stated: ‘‘Top Obama began. priety, when his own integrity was administration officials knowingly Mr. Speaker, we cannot expect the called to bear as a consequence of his used unverified information paid for by DOJ and FBI to fully investigate them- participation in the illegal spying by the Hillary Clinton campaign, some of selves. I have a great amount of respect our government on American citizens, which came from Russian intelligence, for everyone at the Justice Department well, he didn’t go seek the same special in a secret court document to justify a who has served and continues to serve counsel remedy that he sought to go counterintelligence investigation of for all of the right reasons, as I men- after Mr. Trump. He went and picked the Trump campaign during the 2016 tioned earlier, integrity, independence, his own employees to investigate him- Presidential election. This corrupt patriotism, objectivity, and commit- self. process was later the basis for a cam- ment to the rule of law. I agree with the gentleman from New paign to sabotage the incoming Trump A special counsel can ensure trans- York (Mr. ZELDIN), that that is a stand- administration and to fuel a witch parency and accountability so that ard that erodes our trust in the rule of hunt against the President.’’ these historic, legendary, and nec- law. When you have got one set of rules The American people deserve to essary agencies can move forward with for the Clintons and the FBI and the know if our government is misusing their important mission better than deep state and another set of rules for powerful surveillance methods to exact ever before. anyone that has had anything to do political revenge, especially if it is be- The list of concerns that warrant an with Mr. Trump, we deprive ourselves fore a FISA court. This behavior by immediate and independent investiga- of the ability to find the facts, and to those entrusted to impartially serve tion is long and growing by the day. ensure that people who have truly bro- the public threatens to the core the in- First, tonight I will discuss the mis- ken the law are held accountable. tegrity and vibrancy of our constitu- conduct with regard to how and why I support Mr. ZELDIN’s call for a sec- tional republic. the Hillary Clinton email probe ended. ond special counsel. I would note that The American people are starting to Next, we will cover FISA abuse. And fi- this is an organic call from the mem- get it. A recent Harvard CAPS-Harris nally, we will discuss the manner in bership of this body. It began with sev- Poll survey concluded that 67 percent which the Trump-Russia probe began, eral members of the Judiciary Com- of Americans support a second special was extended, continued, and became a mittee in July. Under Mr. ZELDIN’s counsel; 75 percent of those are Repub- special counsel probe. leadership, we have had a number of licans, 60 percent are Democrats, and But before discussing each of these Republican colleagues sign on, includ- 69 percent are independents. This is a topics individually, it is important to ing the majority leader of the House significant majority of Americans address the political bias that has ex- and the whip of the House. So we invite ranging from all sides of the political isted among individuals at the highest and encourage our leadership to con- spectrum. levels of the DOJ and FBI. First, there tinue to support these efforts so that Tonight, Mr. Speaker, I stand along- was FBI Agent Peter Strzok, who was we can restore the rule of law in this side my distinguished colleagues to en- the chief of the FBI’s counter-espio- country. courage Attorney General Jeff Sessions nage section. Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank to appoint a second special counsel. Additionally, there was Agent the gentleman from Florida, as he Simply appointing Attorney John Strzok’s mistress, FBI counsel Lisa pointed out, and our next speaker Huber to lead an internal Justice De- Page. Aside from the fact that they signed as well at the end of February, partment review of Special Counsel were in love, it is important to note February 28, a letter signed by over a Robert Mueller is a step in the right di- that these two individuals exchanged dozen of our colleagues to AG Sessions rection, but I don’t believe it is far many texts detailing their personal bi- calling for the appointment of a second enough. ases, overcoming their better judgment special counsel. The American people deserve nothing in performance of their duties. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentle- less than full transparency. Working Text messages exchanged between woman from New York (Ms. TENNEY). alongside congressional leaders, I will Strzok and Page during the period of Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank continue to fight to ensure these seri- August 16, 2015, to May 17, 2017, show the gentleman from New York (Mr. ous matters are investigated, and en- substantial evidence of politicizing ZELDIN) for hosting tonight’s really im- courage investigations where necessary Federal law enforcement and improp- portant Special Order. to restore the public trust. erly handling investigations within the I might just add, as a side note, that We must demand accountability agency. The texts contain egregious Mr. ZELDIN and I are very aware of cor- across the board. It is the only way we evidence of bias against President ruption firsthand; I, as a former mem- are going to restore public trust in our Trump, before and after the November ber of the Assembly, and him as a institutions of government and to re- 2016 election. former member of the New York State store the rule of law and order in our Page would write: ‘‘Trump should go Senate. Today is actually the day of communities. F—- himself.’’ Strzok would text: ‘‘F— former speaker Sheldon Silver’s second I thank the gentleman for his leader- - Trump.’’ Now, that is barely even trial. He is being tried for corruption in ship on this issue as a member of the starting to scratch the surface with New York, so we know what it is like Financial Services Committee, but those two. to fight the good fight on that. also, importantly, as a member of the It is also worth noting that their But I want to just highlight why it is Foreign Affairs Committee, and also texts, for some reason, were not stored so important and why I agreed to sign serving honorably as a distinguished within the FBI archives system, an on to Mr. ZELDIN’s letter appointing a member of our Armed Forces in the egregious oversight blamed on a tech- second special counsel. Recent evi- Army. nical glitch. And even after these mes- dence has emerged raising serious con- Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank sages were partially recovered by the cerns about decisions and activities at Blue Star Mom CLAUDIA TENNEY for agency’s inspector general in 2018, the Department of Justice, the DOJ, being here and for her leadership on many unanswered questions remain re- and the FBI regarding FISA abuse. this important cause as well. garding impropriety and bias.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Apr 17, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16AP7.036 H16APPT1 H3334 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 16, 2018 Then there was DOJ senior official get a no-knock raid of his home and of- least 3 weeks after the FBI discovered Bruce Ohr, fourth in command at the fice, that is especially troubling how them on Anthony Weiner’s computer. agency. While the DOJ and FBI were the scales of justice are just not equal The DOJ’s inspector general is still improperly submitting FISA applica- under the law. That is a big problem. conducting an investigation into tions based on Fusion GPS’ work on Back to Comey, now he contradicted whether then-FBI Deputy Director behalf of the DNC and Hillary Clinton those transcripts I mentioned when he McCabe and other FBI officials sought campaign, it was never disclosed that stated during sworn testimony before to purposely delay the release of these Bruce Ohr’s wife worked at Fusion the House Judiciary Committee on illicit emails for politically motivated GPS, and that he served as the middle- September 28 of 2016 that he made the purposes. man between Christopher Steele and decision not to recommend criminal Hillary Clinton’s privileged status the Justice Department. charges for Hillary Clinton after she her whole career, and especially during Then there was FBI Deputy Director was interviewed by the FBI on July 2, the Obama administration, as above Andrew McCabe, whose wife, Dr. Jill 2016. That was a flat-out lie under oath. the law doesn’t end with her legal mis- McCabe, was running for Virginia Former Director Comey, in the final use of classified emails. State Senate, and received $675,000 in draft of his statement, allowed Peter Throughout the Obama administra- donations from the Virginia Demo- Strzok to replace ‘‘grossly negligent,’’ tion, while she was serving as Sec- cratic Party and Common Good VA, which is legally punishable under Fed- retary of State, and later as she was the leadership PAC controlled by eral law, with ‘‘extremely careless,’’ running for President, the Department Democratic Virginia Governor Terry which is not legally punishable under of Justice also failed to fully inves- McAuliffe, a long-time Clinton asso- Federal law. tigate serious concerns surrounding ciate. Federal law states that gross neg- the connection between her, her hus- These are just a few of the many ligence in handling our Nation’s intel- band, and the Clinton Foundation to highlights of partisan bias at the high- ligence can be punished criminally Russian-controlled company Uranium est levels of DOJ and FBI. That list, with prison time and/or fines. One, which received State Department and the evidence, runs much, much And then there was the infamous approval to purchase American ura- deeper. tarmac meeting on June 27, 2016, just nium mines in 2010. b 1945 days before Hillary Clinton would end Also in 2010, while Russian state in- The Hillary Clinton email probe: up being exonerated. Attorney General terests were working to both acquire a While these various rogue agents Loretta Lynch had a covert meeting majority stake in Uranium One and to were busy trying to obstruct Donald with Hillary Clinton’s husband, former purchase American mines, Bill Clinton Trump from day one, they were failing President Bill Clinton, aboard AG was paid $500,000 for a speech in Mos- to properly complete their investiga- Lynch’s plane on the tarmac in Phoe- cow by a Kremlin-linked Russian in- tion into the Hillary Clinton email nix, Arizona. The likelihood of this vestment bank that was underwriting controversy. conversation being just small talk was Uranium One stock. During her tenure as Secretary of zero. Nothing to see here, right? State, Hillary Clinton violated Federal And let’s not forget that it was AG The Obama DOJ ignored an FBI law and State Department rules, regu- Lynch who insisted that the Hillary probe on the matter. A confidential in- lations, and protocol by using a private Clinton email probe not even be called formant who worked with the FBI to email server in her Chappaqua, New an investigation. Instead, she insisted uncover bribery and other corruption York, home. She would transmit it be called a matter, as if the Clinton related to the Uranium One matter was emails that contained sensitive infor- campaign were driving the bus of the threatened with reprisal by the Justice mation or classified material on this investigation and calling the shots. Department under AG Lynch when he unsecured server. This use of a private Soon after, Comey violated DOJ rules tried to come forward in 2016. server was meant to blatantly get and unilaterally exonerated then-Pres- The Senate Judiciary Committee around FOIA and to avoid having to idential candidate Hillary Clinton in a launched a probe in October of 2017 to turn over incriminating emails in the public statement to the media. One day investigate the Uranium One issue, in- case of a subpoena. later, on July 6, 2016, an announcement cluding whether Federal agencies such Her plan proved to be partially suc- followed from AG Lynch that the DOJ as the State Department knew the FBI cessful when various sensitive emails investigation into then-Presidential was looking into possible corruption subject to grand jury and congressional candidate Hillary Clinton would be for- before the deal was approved. subpoenas were destroyed through mally closed, with no criminal charges. Mr. Speaker, this again brings home bleach biting and the destruction of This seemingly endless trail of the urgent need for an independent and hardware before they could be obtained crimes and misconduct relating to Hil- fair investigation. by investigators. lary Clinton’s emails did not end there. Collusion with corrupt Russian ac- The FBI, led by then-Director James In September 2016, the FBI, during an tors is, indeed, a very serious concern Comey, began an incomplete investiga- examination of the personal laptop of and a threat to U.S. national security, tion into this serious issue. And ac- former Congressman Anthony Weiner, especially when critical resources that cording to transcripts obtained by the as part of an unrelated investigation impact national and global security, Senate Judiciary Committee, Comey into him sending sexually explicit mes- such as uranium, are up for grabs to was prepared to exonerate Secretary sages to a teenage girl, discovered pre- questionable companies that were not Clinton as early as April or May of 2016 viously unexamined State Department properly scrutinized due to their con- when he began to draft a statement an- classified emails belonging to his nections with an influential family. nouncing the end of his investigation spouse, top Clinton aide Huma Abedin. FISA abuse: before up to 17 key witnesses, including The man within the FBI tasked with Mr. Speaker, there are also very seri- former Secretary Clinton herself and examining these additional emails ous concerns that, in October 2016, the several of her closest aides, were even was—guess who—FBI Deputy Director FBI and DOJ used politically biased, interviewed. Andrew McCabe, whose wife was then unverified sources to improperly ob- Cheryl Mills, who served as counselor in the midst of a Virginia State senate tain a FISA warrant to spy on an and chief of staff to Hillary Clinton campaign generously supported by American citizen. This warrant grant- during her whole tenure as United Clinton operatives and Clinton-allied ed U.S. intelligence and law enforce- States Secretary of State, was offered money. ment agencies sweeping power to col- immunity from prosecution by the FBI It then took until October 28 of 2016 lect bulk information and conduct during its investigation in exchange for for Comey to announce, via a letter to ‘‘about collection,’’ which results in access to her laptop that contained the chairmen of the relevant congres- surveillance of a broad array of private many of the questionable emails. sional committees, that he was reopen- communications from the past, Why? ing the investigation, an additional present, and future, including those of And after watching President egregious delay after McCabe failed to U.S. citizens not specifically targeted Trump’s personal attorney last week even examine the illicit emails for at in a FISA-authorized warrant.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Apr 17, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16AP7.037 H16APPT1 April 16, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3335 To obtain these warrants, FBI and the investigation. They didn’t come up Agent Peter Strzok; FBI Counsel Lisa DOJ officials submitted an unverified with a sufficient alternative justifica- Page; FBI Special Agent Josh Camp- dossier prepared by Christopher Steele tion to start the probe. The Trump- bell; DOJ senior official Bruce Ohr; FBI to the FISA court, failing to disclose Russia probe was then continued be- Assistant Director Michael Kortan; and that Christopher Steele was hired by cause Trump became very close to pos- Assistant Attorney General Peter the firm Fusion GPS, which was hired sibly being elected President of the Kadzik. by the Democratic National Com- United States. The DOJ Inspector General’s Office mittee and Hillary Clinton campaign It is clear why DOJ and FBI didn’t has undoubtedly done great work to to prepare this dossier, and that the want the Nunes memo released: they uncover misconduct and expose bias, source was unreliable and soon there- broke the rules and misled a FISA but the mission of the OIG is limited after was going to be terminated as an court to improperly secure a warrant only to ‘‘detect and deter waste, fraud, asset. to spy on a U.S. citizen. abuse, and misconduct in DOJ pro- The FISA court was not informed The Trump-Russia probe then be- grams and personnel, and to promote that Christopher Steele was actively came a special counsel probe because economy and efficiency in those pro- opposed to the election of Donald Donald Trump subsequently won the grams.’’ Trump, that he was the unnamed election, and the FBI Director then il- A fully independent special counsel source cited in the media reports that legally leaked classified info to the has greater autonomy than an IG or the FBI used to corroborate his dossier, media to trigger a special counsel ap- other Federal prosecutors to run a non- and that Fusion GPS had been hired to pointment. biased investigation and, if necessary, perform previous anti-Trump research Director Comey had prepared a series bring forth criminal charges. efforts in 2015. of seven memos containing classified With so much at risk, including the The Woods Procedures, which are the information, including notes on his integrity of our Federal law enforce- FBI’s mandatory vetting process re- conversations with President Trump. ment agencies, which are tasked with quired for all FISA warrant applica- He then admitted in sworn testimony protecting our Nation and upholding tions, instituted to ensure that all to the Senate Committee on Intel- the rule of law, the need is more urgent facts contained in an application are ligence in June 2017 that he had leaked than ever. accurate and verified to clearly support this classified content to a personal This is not about politics but about probable cause for the warrant, was friend and encouraged that friend to the principles that bind together our clearly not followed. share the material with the press. Nation and our constitutional system Former-Director Comey then admit- That is a blatant violation of Federal of government. ted in sworn testimony to the Senate law meant to protect sensitive infor- Equality under the law and impar- Judiciary Committee on June 8, 2017, mation from falling into the wrong tiality of justice is what brings all of that material contained in the Steele hands. us to the House floor tonight, urging dossier was known to be both salacious An investigation conducted by the the Attorney General of the United and unverified. Senate Judiciary Committee later re- States to take immediate action Since FISA applications are rarely vealed that the personal friend of Di- through the appointment of a second turned down and almost never subject rector Comey was Professor Daniel special counsel. Too many questions to appeal, are presented in closed court Richman of Columbia Law School, and remain unanswered, and too much is at with no public record where the gov- that Mr. Comey provided him with four stake. ernment is not challenged by any de- Mr. Speaker, I say to Mr. Sessions: It of the seven memoranda, all containing fense, it is imperative that the govern- is very important to take this action classified information. ment take extra care to validate the Mr. Speaker, in closing, with all of and appoint a second special counsel. information being utilized to build Mr. Speaker, at this point I yield to this grievous misconduct at the high- their case before they take the extraor- the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. est levels of the DOJ and FBI, the bla- dinary step of waiving rights of a U.S. BRAT), one of the signers of our late tant violations of the Constitution and citizen without his or her knowledge or February letter to AG Sessions, a great law, and so many serious unanswered the opportunity to defend themselves. leader in this cause. These are secret documents sub- questions, this matter must be inves- b 2000 mitted to a secret court to spy on an tigated by someone who can act inde- American citizen. The government has pendently from outside the Justice De- Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, the Amer- a responsibility not only to provide the partment. ican people are sick and tired of the 1 best evidence they have in support of The nearly 2 ⁄2 years that the Trump- double standard shown to the Clintons, their case, but to also provide the best Russia probe has continued on with and the issue does not just stop nar- evidence that they have against their zero accountability still appears to be rowly with all of the issues which were case. without any evidence that President just laid out so well by my colleague. These deeply flawed and questionable Trump colluded with the Russians. There is sufficient evidence that FISA warrant applications utilizing il- These have been some of the most tu- Democratic opposition research was licit sources and politically biased in- multuous years in the history of the submitted as evidence to a FISA court telligence were approved by DOJ and FBI and DOJ, but with transparency so that our intelligence community FBI officials at the highest levels be- and accountability, these awesome could begin spying on the Trump cam- fore being submitted to the FISA agencies can get everything back on paign and American citizens. Justice court. track. has not been done here, as elsewhere, It was further not disclosed to the In March 2018, former FBI Director and Americans know full well what is FISA court, as I referenced earlier, McCabe was fired by AG Jeff Sessions, going on up here. that the wife of the fourth ranking who noted that Deputy Director Mr. Speaker, the script has flipped, DOJ official, Bruce Ohr, was an em- McCabe ‘‘lacked candor—including and it seems clear it was the Demo- ployee of Fusion GPS, and Christopher under oath—on multiple occasions’’ crats, not Republicans, who abused Steele directly transmitted the dossier and had partaken in ‘‘unauthorized dis- their power to try to get Clinton elect- and other information through Bruce closure to the news media.’’ This is ed. Unique in world history, America is Ohr for submission to the FISA court. among other violations noted in a re- the first Nation that was founded on Let’s talk about how and why the port issued by the FBI Office of Inspec- the premise and the promise that all Trump-Russia probe began. tor General after a wide-reaching in- people are created equal under the law. Mr. Speaker, make no mistake, the vestigation into McCabe’s conduct. That means no matter how well-con- Trump-Russia probe was launched be- A myriad of other DOJ and FBI per- nected, no matter how wealthy you cause Donald Trump won the GOP sonnel have been fired, demoted, or re- are, no matter how many foreign lead- nomination for President of the United signed during these past few years: ers you have under your thumb, no States. Former FBI Director Comey; chief of matter how popular, no matter how It is clear why DOJ and FBI didn’t staff to the Director, James Rybicki; elite, no matter how educated, no mat- want to turn over the memo opening FBI General Counsel James Baker; FBI ter how many lawyers you have, no one

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Apr 17, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16AP7.039 H16APPT1 H3336 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 16, 2018 in this country stands above the law of People in America have seen what had been Secretary of State. She had the land, and we have to ensure that happened; and I think because they all of this power as Secretary of State. that remains the case. have seen the way justice has been She was one of the key critical people The system is rigged. BERNIE SAND- abused for a number of years now, it is that had to approve this sale that ERS ran for the people without power, what helped Donald J. Trump get elect- would end up putting uranium from the and the system and a party rigged his ed President. People were ready for sig- United States in Russia’s possession. election. I ran to protect people from nificant changes so that we could get They squelched the investigation. the corruption in D.C. Now, what was back to a country where the rule of law The sale went through with Hillary going on in D.C. last week, we have mattered regardless of who was the Clinton and her friends’ support. The monopolies run amuck, Facebook, President. Clinton Foundation ends up with $145 Google, Amazon, big banks, big insur- When we look back at Chuck Colson, million from those who had invested in ance, big everything, the exact oppo- he did a year and a half in prison basi- the effort to get Russia U.S. uranium. site of the logic of the Founders. cally for having one FBI file in the Bill Clinton got $500,000 for a 20-minute ADAM SMITH, the founder of free mar- White House. The Clintons had nearly speech that, from what we understand, ket economics, wanted a country where 1,000 in the White House. Nobody did a wasn’t very good; but it wasn’t about a small businesses competed against day. We saw that kind of injustice good speech, it was about rewarding each other—no monopolies, no oligop- come in and played out before us dur- the Clintons for Russia getting U.S. olies. James Madison, the author of the ing the 8 years of Eric Holder and Lo- uranium. Constitution, wanted a country with a retta Lynch in the Justice Depart- There is no way, this side of heaven, large number of factors that duked it ment. that you could have a fair investiga- out among themselves. No power cen- And now Americans who have seen— tion of former FBI Director Mueller tered—especially in the Federal Gov- not all of them. Some are still blinded and the former U.S. attorney on the ernment up in D.C.—all power returned by the very thick paint that is pro- role they played in helping Russia— to the States and to the people. vided by the mainstream media—but along with Hillary Clinton, helping But today, that is all, unfortunately, when you break through that, you Russia get U.S. uranium, all to the det- upside down up in the swamp. I know it brush that off, you get down to the riment of the United States. sounds like fiction that the FBI used a bare facts. What you have now is Dep- I mean, we had prior Soviet spies, piece of opposition research paid for by uty Attorney General Rosenstein who Communist spies, who were put to the Clintons and the Democrats to file was the U.S. attorney when Russia’s il- death for providing designs for ad- a warrant to spy on American citizens legal effort to obtain U.S. uranium was vanced weaponry. But in this case, you and the Trump campaign. going down. He and his dear friend, have Hillary Clinton, Rod Rosenstein, Comey, McCabe, Rybicki, Jim Baker, Robert Mueller, as head of the FBI, and Bob Mueller not just helping de- Lisa Page, Peter Strzok, all of these were investigating what they knew. sign. Here is what you need to create are top personnel, political appointees They had the facts. They had the evi- atomic weapons to destroy the United in the FBI who are wrapped up in this dence. They had the person working be- States. They didn’t care. We know on story. They are not going to inves- hind the scenes providing information, one hand money, a great deal of tigate themselves. We need a fair and and they knew Russia was illegally money, was involved and changed independent special counsel looking trying to corner the market on U.S. hands, but there is no way the FBI and into this to see if there is anything uranium. the Justice Department, that we have wrong and any wrongdoing. They knew that bribes were taking seen has so many close friends of Mr. Speaker, a second special counsel place. They knew there were all kinds Mueller and Rosenstein—there is no really is the only way to have the flexi- of crimes taking place. Yet we don’t way they are going to be able to inves- bility to fully investigate the matter of know how it was with such a power- tigate that matter. political bias in regards to ruling of the fully important investigation going on, Since the day Robert Mueller was ap- FISA court and see if anyone has bro- an investigation that has led up to a pointed as special counsel, I have been ken the law of the land. time now where the head of Russia— begging that we get a second counsel to Only after we fully investigate this whether you want to call him czar, investigate Mueller. He ought to be matter will we have the full confidence president, Vladimir, whatever you fired, but that, politically, cannot hap- that no one has escaped justice. The want to call him, he is the head guy— pen without some of our weak-kneed American people want that closure, and he has made clear that in Russia Republicans in the Senate deciding and so do I. they have rockets now that can deliver they need to remove the President. Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank atomic weapons, nuclear weapons, that That should not happen for what the the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. the United States cannot stop. Democrats did. So it is critical. BRAT) for being here and for all of his And we know that while Rosenstein If we have a second counsel—and by efforts. and Mueller were involved in inves- the way, let me just say, a great pa- Mr. Speaker, at this time, it is a tigating the efforts of the President’s triot, ethical, honest, upright man great pleasure to yield to Congressman friend, Vladimir, for whom he had named Jeff Sessions is seeing to a num- LOUIE GOHMERT from Texas. Often- much flexibility after the second elec- ber of critical things that we need in- times, for those who are at home who tion, we know he is making noise, rat- vestigated, seeing to them being inves- may be watching C–SPAN late on a tling his sabre, as an existential threat tigated. And I applaud his efforts to weeknight like tonight, I will encour- to the United States’ very existence. apply the rule of law across the board. age them that all other nights when we So the evidence was there. What we But when it comes to investigating are here, there is a pretty good chance can’t find out, because we can’t get a Rosenstein, Mueller, and Comey—who that if they turn on C–SPAN late at proper investigation, is who was it? has already admitted leaking things night, LOUIE GOHMERT will be standing What was it that caused Rod Rosen- that should be a crime—that is going where he is about to speak from, this stein and FBI Director Mueller to to take a second counsel. wise man, educating us on his thoughts squelch the investigation into Russia’s Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my friend and reflections of our great country. effort to get our uranium? Because if it Congressman ZELDIN arranging for this Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, coming was going full board, and if it had not time to talk about it. I appreciate the from my friend, a wise man from New been squelched by Mr. Rosenstein and effort my colleagues have put into re- York, I appreciate that very much. And Mr. Mueller, Russia would never have searching this. We have got to have a I appreciate the effort in securing the ended up with 20 percent of U.S. ura- second counsel, or our Justice Depart- whole hour for all of us to talk about nium. ment is done. this issue. And since we now know Hillary Clin- Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank It really is a matter of wide-eyed jus- ton will not be President, the Clinton the gentleman from Texas for his lead- tice. The blindfold was removed, and Foundation has gone away. But when it ership. real justice in America is hanging in looked like everybody thought she was Our next speaker is oftentimes at the the balance. going to be the next President—and she very tip of the spear of the issues that

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Apr 17, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16AP7.041 H16APPT1 April 16, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3337 matter most all throughout America. They didn’t tell the court two impor- looking at is whether there was ob- He certainly has met the tip of the tant things. They didn’t tell the court struction of justice in the firing of spear here, bringing accountability and who paid for the document, namely, James Comey, if those aren’t extraor- transparency to the maximum degree the Clinton campaign and the DNC; dinary and strange circumstances war- he knows possible. and they didn’t tell the court that the ranting a second special counsel, then, Mr. Speaker, I yield to Congressman author of that salacious and unverified again, I don’t know what is. JIM JORDAN. document, Christopher Steele, had had So let’s just do the right thing. Mr. Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank his relationship with the FBI termi- SESSIONS and Mr. Rosenstein should the gentleman. It is good to be with my nated because Mr. Steele broke a car- just do the right thing. The American good friend from New York and other dinal rule: he went and told the press people want this. If we get a second Members of Congress here tonight to he was working for the FBI. special counsel, then we limit the talk about why we need a second spe- Now, if you and I go to court, we amount of time that they can look at cial counsel. have got to tell the truth. We have got this. We pick someone outside the Nobody likes him. I don’t like him, to tell the whole truth. But they swamp somewhere in the middle of the but I don’t know of any other remedy. didn’t. They didn’t. country. Let him or her run this inves- Is the FBI really going to be able to in- Now, recently, there have been two tigation, say: Here is your time; go fig- vestigate themselves? Is the Depart- appointments made at the Department ure it out. ment of Justice really going to be able of Justice by the current Attorney I believe, when they reach their con- to investigate themselves? And I un- General: Mr. Huber and Mr. Lausch. clusions, there is a much better chance derstand Mr. Horowitz, the inspector Mr. Lausch has been named to help get the American people will accept that general, is going to do good work, and the documents to Congress that we are result and accept their findings. But if he has done good work, but it is not the entitled as a separate and equal branch it is just the same old thing that we same. It is not the same. of government to receive. Mr. Huber have been seeing, I think that is much b 2015 has been tasked with overseeing this tougher. So this is what is needed. No one The only way to get to the truth, I whole Russia investigation. While these individuals appear to be likes it; no one really wants these think, is to have a second special coun- things to happen; but I see no other ap- sel look at all of this; all the Clinton fine individuals, again, it is not the same because whom does Mr. Huber proach that will get the answers and investigation, all the Russia investiga- hopefully provide the closure that the tion, look at it all. and Mr. Lausch answer to? They an- swer to Rod Rosenstein, who was in- country needs to move on. Understand a few things we have So I would just say to Mr. SESSIONS volved in all this throughout all the learned over the past few months and, and Mr. Rosenstein: Do what everyone Clinton investigation and throughout frankly, the past few days with the else in this country knows needs to the Russia investigation. They answer very top people at the FBI. happen. Name the second special coun- to Rod Rosenstein. James Comey misled the American sel. Let’s get the facts for the Amer- Now, how do employees investigate people on both investigations. ican people, and let’s get moving. Now, think about this. Mr. Comey, at their boss? Someone tell me how that Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank works. the urging of then-Attorney General Congressman JORDAN for all of his re- I have two final points. Loretta Lynch, calls the Clinton inves- marks and his leadership on this issue. tigation a matter, not an investiga- When you think about probably the It is a great pleasure to introduce classic definition of the swamp, think tion, and misleads the American peo- General SCOTT PERRY of Pennsyl- ple. about this: Rod Rosenstein writes the vania—otherwise known as Congress- memo for firing James Comey. James We all know it was an investigation. man General SCOTT PERRY of Pennsyl- As some of my colleagues have said, Comey leaks a government document vania—tonight to participate in our the last time I checked, he was not to The New York Times to create mo- Special Order. running the Federal Bureau of Matters; mentum for a special counsel, Bob Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman it is the Federal Bureau of Investiga- Mueller, whom Rod Rosenstein ap- from Pennsylvania (Mr. PERRY). tion. It was an investigation, but in an points as the special counsel and over- Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank attempt to play it down, he misleads sees; and one of the elements they are the gentleman from New York for the American people and calls it a mat- looking at is whether there was ob- bringing this issue to light. ter and not an investigation. struction of justice in the firing of As you can see, I am serving in this Then, when it came to our President, James Comey. uniform. We are all citizens here to- he allows the perception to exist with You can’t make this stuff up. You night. No one outranks another. As a the American people that President talk about the biggest roundabout I matter of fact, we all serve at the Trump is under investigation when, in have ever seen. pleasure of our constituents, and we fact, he wasn’t and had been told by We need a special counsel. Think ask to earn their votes. James Comey, himself, that he wasn’t about this as well: the Attorney Gen- With that, I want to join my col- under investigation. eral has said only in extraordinary cir- leagues in this call for a second special Then, of course, there is the number cumstances do you name special coun- counsel to investigate the abuses of the two guy at the FBI, Andrew McCabe, sel. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act who we have learned in the last few It is pretty extraordinary when court. days actually misled the Office of Pro- James Comey, the Director of the FBI, Knowing what we know now, this fessional Responsibility, misled his has been fired; Andrew McCabe, the warrant was based off of a bogus news boss, and misled the inspector general Deputy Director of the FBI, has been report which was based off of a bogus on two different occasions—four times, fired; Jim Baker, the former general document that was commissioned total. As they say, he lacked candor. counsel, has been demoted and reas- much like, Mr. Speaker, someone com- He didn’t tell the truth. signed; Peter Strzok, the deputy head missions an artist for a painting and So we need a special counsel to look of counterintelligence has been de- said: Well, we want this information to into all this and a host of other things. moted and reassigned; and Lisa Page, make the other guy look bad, so we are It was those guys, Mr. Comey and Mr. FBI counsel, has been demoted and re- going to pay you. You go get the infor- McCabe, who were involved at the FBI assigned. Those are some of the top mation, put it together in a nice for- when the whole dossier thing unfolded people at the FBI. Now, if that is not mat for us, and then we are going to where they took an opposition research extraordinary, then I don’t what the act like it is real. document, dressed it all up, made it heck is. I say that because, right now, there look like it was legitimate intel- If it is not a little unusual when the doesn’t seem to be any evidence that ligence, and took it to the secret court new Deputy Attorney General writes says that any of it is real, no evidence to get a warrant to spy on a fellow the memo to fire James Comey and after over a year of investigation. American associated with the Trump then names Bob Mueller as special So they commissioned this dossier, campaign. counsel, and one of the things they are which is just a fancy name for a file, to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Apr 17, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16AP7.042 H16APPT1 H3338 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 16, 2018 go get the other guy, and they use that sonable searches and seizures shall not should not be tilted based off of your to get a FISA warrant and investigate be violated. But, Mr. Speaker, they last name. Cheryl Mills gets immunity; him using the power of the Federal have been violated. The Founding Fa- Michael Cohen gets his offices and Government, the highest power, to in- thers wrote that long before the inter- home raided. If there was equal justice vestigate a private citizen. net was available and long before cam- under the law, then there might be Now, this begs the question, Mr. eras and microphones were ubiquitous more understanding and a greater man- Speaker: Did these partisans inten- in our society. The time is now long date for actions being taken. tionally mislead the FISA court? That overdue to reaffirm that right. But President Trump is being inves- is the question. I have always opposed warrantless tigated because he won the GOP nomi- The reason that we are asking for a surveillance and searches of American nation. That is why the investigation second special counsel acknowledges citizens because they violate the Con- got started. The reason why the DOJ that these things can be problematic, stitution. Mr. Speaker, you may say: and FBI didn’t want to release the they can run far afield, and we want Why should I care? I am not being in- memo is because they really didn’t them to be focused only on what they vestigated by the FISA court. It is not have much of a better reason. They are focused on and not looking at ev- happening to me. were reaching, and they really didn’t erything and anything. But think about that. If it can hap- want to have to tell Congress why they But the reason there has to be a sec- pen to the President of the United started, because the real reason was be- ond special counsel, Mr. Speaker, is be- States, arguably the most powerful cause he won the Republican nomina- cause that is the only one who can an- person in our country if not the free tion, and they wanted to continue the swer this question. Because the people world, then do you think it can’t hap- investigation because he actually had a who potentially stand accused—and we pen to you? shot at winning. don’t know exactly who they are—are a Do you think it is fair? Is it right to So they go to a secret court with se- limited group of people, because I can’t have one standard of justice, or is it cret documents to spy on a United get a FISA court to investigate some- okay to have two: one for all of us peo- States citizen desperate to try to find body—you can’t get a FISA court to in- ple out here and then one for the politi- information loaded with bias, clear-as- vestigate, and the American people cally connected? day bias, an anti-Trump and pro-Hil- can’t get the FISA court to investigate That is why you should care, because lary bias where their political bias is there is a true danger in the unchecked somebody where they think something overcoming their better objective, and power and authority of a faceless gov- wrong has happened. Only the Depart- then expanding the probe and creating ernment bureaucrat. a special counsel because the President ment of Justice and the FBI folks can The American people have a right to get this FISA warrant. know who is watching the watchmen, is elected. If they are the only people who can That is not how we do things in this and it is our job in Congress to do that get it, then they can’t be investigating country where you get investigated be- watching. That is why we are calling themselves. Nowhere else do we ask the cause you win an election, where you for this second special counsel. Mr. identify a person, and then you em- accused to investigate himself and Speaker, it is long overdue and it is power someone with authority to go come up with the right answer, only in long past time. These abuses cannot out and try to find a crime anywhere. this crazy world that we live in right continue. So with regard to FISA abuse—the here. So that is why we must have the Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman end of the Hillary Clinton probe and second special counsel. The standard from New York for the time and for for accountability simply must be bringing this issue to light. the beginning of the Trump-Russia higher. Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank probe—it is imperative for AG Sessions And if you don’t understand, when Congressman PERRY and all of our to appoint a second special counsel. I appreciate everyone for tuning in you go to the FISA court, it is not like speakers tonight: Congressman GAETZ, during this hour. We look forward to any other court where you say: ‘‘Here Congresswoman TENNEY, Congressmen continuing the effort until we get this is the prosecution’s case, and here is BRAT, GOHMERT, JORDAN, PERRY, and the defense’s case.’’ It doesn’t work everyone who has been part of this done and over the top. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance like that. It is only the prosecution’s cause. case because it is secret, Mr. Speaker. Just to recap, we, over the course of of my time. The defense doesn’t get to defend them- this hour, outlined all the main rea- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. selves until after the fact. sons why it is imperative for AG Ses- HOLLINGSWORTH). The Chair would re- That is why there has to be a higher sions to appoint a second special coun- mind Members that remarks in debate standard and a higher level of account- sel to look into FISA abuse, how and may not engage in personalities toward ability, because it is only supposed to why the Hillary Clinton case ended, the President, including by repeating be in the rarest of circumstances that and how and why the Trump-Russia remarks made elsewhere that would be this is used. probe began. improper if spoken in the Member’s I have said over and over again: Do I As Congressman PERRY was just own words. live in a free America or do I live in a talking about the scales of justice, I re- f place where there is a secret police like member when Hillary Clinton was pub- b 2030 the KGB where, instead of inves- licly being exonerated just days after a tigating crimes, we investigate people, tarmac meeting where her husband was REMEMBRANCE OF VICTIMS OF and we keep investigating and inves- able to meet with AG Lynch on her THE HOLOCAUST tigating until we find a crime? plane on the tarmac in Phoenix, Ari- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under That is not what we plan for in zona. the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- America. Nowhere is it said that people I was thinking of the people who had uary 3, 2017, the Chair recognizes the in high positions are allowed to to go into court that day as defendants. gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. weaponize the instruments of Federal Maybe they got caught making a right WILSON) for 30 minutes. power to get back at their political ri- on red, and they are a defendant going GENERAL LEAVE vals or their political enemies. Amer- before a judge. They are pleading, and Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. ican citizens deserve strict constitu- they are being punished. And yet here Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that tional protections regardless of what you have all this evidence with the Hil- all Members have 5 legislative days in court they are in and, most specifically lary Clinton case and there would be which to revise and extend their re- and most especially, if they are in the zero accountability, that actually the marks and include extraneous material FISA Court. decision would be made to exonerate on the topic of this Special Order, The Founding Fathers wrote the Hillary Clinton before even inter- which is Remembrance of Victims of Fourth Amendment to enshrine and en- viewing her and well over a dozen oth- the Holocaust. sure that the right of the people to be ers. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there secure in their persons, their houses, There should be equal treatment objection to the request of the gen- their papers and effects against unrea- under the law. The scales of justice tleman from South Carolina?

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