[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 114 (Friday, July 14, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9984-S9985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               REASSIGNMENT OF DEPUTY FBI DIRECTOR POTTS

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, about an hour ago, I had a phone 
conversation with the Director of the FBI, Louis Freeh. At that time, 
he told me that he permanently reassigned Larry Potts, his immediate 
assistant, Deputy Director, to a new assignment in the FBI pending an 
investigation that is now underway in the Justice Department as it 
relates to the performance of certain FBI personnel with the Ruby Ridge 
incident in Idaho.
  For over 2 years, I have pursued open, factual airing of the events 
of that incident. At the time Mr. Freeh had recommended Potts for his 
appointment, I asked that be deferred and the man not be considered 
until such time as the cloud over the FBI was cleared up. It appears we 
now may be moving in the direction of full public disclosure of 
 
[[Page S9985]]

this incident and the activities of the Federal agents involved.
  I say this on behalf of the FBI and its reputation, which is 
critically important as the major law enforcement community of our 
country, Federal law enforcement community, and I also say this for the 
families of the victims of Ruby Ridge, that it is time we move now 
openly and publicly with hearings both here, in the Senate, and with 
the activities of the Justice Department to clear this issue.
  Mr. Freeh, in that conversation, pledged full cooperation in all 
activities that will occur in the Senate and in the House in the 
hearings that may come about. I certainly hope we can move late this 
summer or early this fall to full and thorough investigative hearings, 
oversight hearings on this incident. I think the American people now 
demand it, and I think it is important we once again reestablish the 
credibility of the FBI by the cleansing of this issue.
  I yield back the remainder of my time.
  Mr. EXON addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska is recognized.
  Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I compliment my colleague from the State of 
Idaho. I probably was nearly as shocked and surprised as he was to hear 
a few moments ago on national television that the Deputy Director of 
the FBI has been ``reassigned.''
  It seems to me that the Senator from Idaho has made a very good 
point. I do not claim to have any inside information with what happened 
at Idaho. It is entirely possible my colleague from that State knows 
much more about this than I do.
  If I understand it correctly, the Deputy Director of the FBI has been 
reassigned. I do not know what that means, but I hope that the Senate 
will move forthwith and speedily for a thorough investigation of this 
matter. I reserve the right to exercise my final judgment on this after 
I know more about it than I do at this particular moment.
  But I think the Senator from Idaho has put his finger on the matter. 
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is something that must be beyond 
reproach. Again, I do not know at this moment what the reason for this 
was, but as I understand it, the Director of the FBI has determined 
that, for the good of the service and because Mr. Potts is under some 
investigation that I believe started in the House of Representatives, 
that he thought it was best for him to be reassigned.
  I do not agree with that matter at all. If Mr. Potts has not done 
anything wrong, not done anything improper, not violated the law, not 
violated the Federal Bureau of Investigation rules, then the Director 
of the FBI and the administration should stand square behind him and 
fight out the matter.
  If, on the other hand, that is not the case and he did do something 
wrong in any area that I just mentioned, or any other area, he should 
be fired, because it appears to me that this is a tremendously serious 
matter. I certainly agree with my colleague from Idaho that I hope the 
proper committee of jurisdiction, which I assume would be the Judiciary 
Committee, should move aggressively on this matter in the Senate so we 
can, too, make sure that we have a full explanation of what is or is 
not going on.
  This is a serious matter that has had a very adverse effect on this 
Senator's view of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and what it does 
or does not do properly.
  I thank my friend from Idaho for bringing this up. I wish to 
associate myself with his remarks.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. GORTON addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington is recognized.

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