[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 23, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H5388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     ETHICS COMMITTEE STONEWALLING

  (Mr. VOLKMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, here we go again, I am shocked and dismayed 
that by a straight party line vote the House Ethics Committee failed to 
appoint an independent counsel in the case of our Speaker, Newt 
Gingrich. It is obvious to me the majority members of our Ethics 
Committee have made the decision to stonewall this case. Why? Well, Mr. 
Speaker, could it be because the chairwoman of the committee nominated 
Mr. Gingrich to be Speaker and also contributed to his campaign?
  Could it be that two majority members of the committee are involved 
in GOPAC either as a contributor or a recipient? Could it be that one 
majority member is a potential witness in one of the cases against the 
Speaker involving influence peddling?
  I remind my colleagues that Speaker Gingrich himself said an 
independent counsel is required for any investigation into the position 
of the Speaker. I quote ``this investigation has to meet an higher 
standard of public accountability.''. The clouds are darkening over our 
Capitol and can only be lifted with the appointment of an independent 
counsel. The stonewalling must stop now, Mr. Speaker.

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