[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 112 (Friday, August 12, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1140
 
                   DO NOT MISUSE THE INDEPENDENT LAW

  (Mr. PENNY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENNY. Mr. Speaker, I voted for the independent counsel law. I 
agree that we cannot expect an administration to investigate itself 
when there are allegations of wrongdoing. However, the use of the 
independent counsel process in the instance of Agriculture Secretary 
Mike Espy raises questions. As has been demonstrated over the years, 
these independent counsel investigations typically cost several hundred 
thousand dollars, some much more.
  What was Secretary Espy's alleged misdeed? He evidently accepted a 
couple hundred dollars worth of travel, lodging, and sports events 
tickets from a food processing firm, and later reimbursed the firm for 
these costs.
  Did Secretary Espy use bad judgment? Yes. Does this matter warrant an 
expensive legal investigation? I think not.

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