[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 22 (Thursday, March 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          URGING FULL DISCLOSURE OF THE WHITEWATER TRANSACTION

  (Mr. LEACH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, there are many elements of the so-called 
Whitewater affair that are a bit esoteric. But the revelations of the 
past few days that officials of the Department of the Treasury and 
Resolution Trust Corporation briefed key White House aides on potential 
legal action which independent regulatory agencies might be obligated 
to take against the President and First Lady subvert one of the 
fundamental premises of American democracy--that this is a country of 
laws and not men.
  In America, process is our most important product. No individual, 
whatever his or her rank, is privileged in the eyes of the law. No 
public official has the right to influence possible legal actions 
against him or herself. For this reason agencies of the Government as 
well as the White House have precise rules that govern their employees.
  Let me cite, in particular, the following Department of Treasury 
standard which appears patently to be violated. Under ``Rules of 
Conduct,'' 31 CFR, section 0.735-30 states:

       An employee should avoid any action * * * which might 
     result in, or create the appearance of * * * (2) Giving 
     preferential treatment to any person; * * * (4) Losing 
     complete independence or impartiality; (5) Making a 
     Government decision outside official channels; or (6) 
     Affecting adversely the confidence of the public in the 
     integrity of the Government.

  Similarly, the following standards contained in 12 CFR section 1605.7 
apply to RTC employees:

       No employees shall engage in any action, which might result 
     in, or create the appearance of***(b) giving preferential 
     treatment to any person; * * * (d) losing complete 
     independence or impartiality; (e) making an RTC decision 
     outside official channels; or, (f) adversely affecting the 
     public's confidence in the integrity of the RTC.

  Likewise, the following standards apply to the White House--3 CFR, 
section 100.735-4:

       In all circumstances employees shall conduct themselves so 
     as to exemplify the highest standards of integrity. An 
     employee shall avoid any action, whether or not specifically 
     prohibited by this subpart, which might result in, or create 
     the appearance of: (1) Using public office for private gain; 
     (2) Giving preferential treatment to any person; * * * (4) 
     Losing complete independence or impartiality; (5) Making a 
     Government decision outside official channels; or (6) 
     Affecting adversely the confidence of the public in the 
     integrity of the Government.

  Seldom have the public and private ethics of lawyers in the White 
House and executive branch departments and agencies been so thoroughly 
devalued.
  All participants in these meetings should be brought before Congress 
to provide full public disclosure of their actions and discussions.

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