[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 114 (Friday, July 14, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S9995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              JUDICIARY HEARING ON THE EVENTS IN TENNESSEE

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I informed everybody that I was going to 
make a statement on the Tennessee situation.
  Mr. President, ours is a Nation of laws. We are a Nation that 
guarantees liberty and justice to all people. Our Nation is only as 
strong as our commitment to justice is strong. When the public's faith 
in the arm of Government responsible for safeguarding our liberty and 
our democratic Government is threatened, then we have to do something 
about it.
  So I rise to announce that 1 week from today, on Friday of next week, 
the Senate Judiciary Committee will convene a hearing on the appalling 
events which took place in Tennessee, the so-called ``Good Ol' Boys 
Roundup.''
  If newspaper reports are accurate, several Federal law enforcement 
agents from among other agencies, the ATF, FBI, DEA, Secret Service, 
and Customs participated in a so-called Good Ol' Boys Roundup, an event 
that is alleged to have involved hateful, racist, ugly conduct.
  After consultation with the Judiciary Committee's ranking member, 
Senator Biden, and fellow committee members--especially Senator 
Thompson, who wants to make sure the great State of Tennessee plays a 
role in resolving this matter--I have decided it would be best for the 
Senate to move expeditiously on this matter.
  Accordingly, I have informed the Directors of the ATF, FBI, and 
Deputy Attorney General Gorelick--I have personally informed them of my 
plan to hold a hearing next Friday. Witnesses I plan to call include 
the Attorney General of the United States, the Secretary of the 
Treasury, the Directors of the FBI, ATF, DEA, and others. I can only 
express my outrage and anger that Federal law enforcement officials 
would allow themselves to be compromised in such a way, and to 
participate in such conduct. I am sure that the Clinton administration 
officials that I have mentioned share my contempt for what has gone on. 
I expect this hearing will provide the American people with an 
opportunity to hear from our top law enforcement leaders, the plans 
they have to root out this racism.
  Those who engaged in this conduct, who have stood by, knowing of it, 
and did nothing, must be held accountable. When a person who is clothed 
with the authority of the people engages in hateful conduct, that 
conduct must be condemned by the people. I condemn this conduct. The 
Senate condemns it.
  This hearing will, hopefully, provide the American people with an 
explanation, detailing what the Clinton administration plans to do 
about it.
  Attorney General Reno, Director Louis Freeh, and others have made 
great strides in improving the efficiency, fairness, and operation of 
our law enforcement agencies. These acts of prejudice, if true, and I 
have been led to believe that many of them are true, threaten to 
undermine the strides they have made to date.
  It is in their interests, the interests of African Americans and 
other people of color, and the public, that we hold these hearings. In 
fact, it is in the interest of all Americans that we hold these 
hearings.
  We must not stand by while Government officials betray the public's 
trust. These events, if true, disgraced Federal law enforcement and the 
United States. It is Congress' obligation. After all, I have to say all 
of us are directly accountable to the people. But it is Congress' 
obligation to hold the executive branch accountable. And I intend to do 
so.
  Now, I have to say in conclusion that these leaders have all 
expressed a desire to clear up this matter and to stop it and to make 
sure that this never happens again. These are fine people who lead 
these organizations. They have made strides in some of these areas and 
I want to continue those strides and we want to stop this type of 
offensive, racist, despicable conduct now and we intend to do so, and 
we hope these hearings will be efficacious in helping us to get there. 
Having said that, we look forward to those hearings next Friday and I 
hope all of our Judiciary members will be able to participate.
  I see the Senator from Alaska is here.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.

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