[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
     CONGRESS HAS WHITEWATERGATE ROLE, TIMES-UNION EDITORIAL STATES

                                 ______


                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 1994

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, there can be no question that Congress does 
indeed have an important oversight role under our system of government.
  We simply cannot concentrate on the important matters before us with 
the cloud of Whitewatergate, and its related issues, hanging over our 
heads.
  The importance of this oversight role to the health of the body 
politic was well expressed in an editorial this morning in the Albany 
Times-Union, the largest daily newspaper in our 22d District in New 
York. It reminds us that simple safeguards can preserve the integrity 
of any separate investigation by Special Counsel Robert Fiske.
  I place the editorial in today's Record, and urge all Members trying 
to get to the bottom of Whitewatergate to read it.

           [From the Albany (NY) Times-Union, Mar. 17, 1994]

                      Congress Has Whitewater Role

       Special Counsel Robert Fiske has asked Congress not to 
     conduct hearings into the Whitewater affair until after he 
     has completed his own investigation.
       We can appreciate Mr. Fiske's concern that a congressional 
     investigation might compromise his work. But since he is not 
     expected to have completed his inquiry for two years--perhaps 
     longer--the American people will essentially be kept in the 
     dark at least until that time about what may be a very 
     pressing matter.
       The special counsel no doubt has learned from the Iran-
     contra hearings how a congressional inquiry can undermine a 
     special prosecutor's efforts to obtain conviction even when 
     the evidence clearly demonstrates that crimes have been 
     committed. Lt. Oliver North literally confessed before 
     Congress to having violated U.S. law in diverting arms to the 
     Nicaraguan contras. Because he had been granted immunity on 
     that specific testimony, it could not later be used to 
     convict him in a court of law. The same lucky fate awaited 
     Admiral Poindexter.
       That concern can be disposed of, however, in precisely the 
     way Republicans in Congress have already suggested: withhold 
     the granting of immunity from prosecution to all witnesses.
       Less easily remedied is Mr. Fiske's concern that the 
     testimony of one witness before Congress will aid subsequent 
     witnesses in framing their testimony. Thus, when Mr. Fiske's 
     team gets around to interrogating these same people, they 
     will already have had the opportunity to synchronize their 
     version of events with that of other players.
       If congressional hearings are held, there would be no way 
     to prevent such things from happening. It is, however, the 
     price that should be paid. These hearings, which no doubt 
     will be televised, at least in part, will permit a full 
     public airing of the testimony of all participants, and will 
     allow the American people to decide its import for 
     themselves.
       Public hearings will also serve one other important 
     function. They will assure that the public will know if every 
     relevant question--regarding the Resolution Trust 
     Corporation, the Whitewater development project, the Madison 
     Guaranty, Vince Foster's death and the Clintons' role in any 
     of these matters--has been adequately raised and answered.
       Congressional hearings into the Whitewater/Foster matter 
     will be no mere sideshow. They very likely will prove at 
     least as important as the investigation by Mr. Fiske. 
     Regarding the public understanding of what is no doubt a 
     highly complex story, they might be even more important.

                          ____________________