[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 146 (Tuesday, September 19, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H9221-H9222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SPEAKER GINGRICH'S OWN PRECEDENTS FOR INVESTIGATING A SPEAKER

  (Mrs. SCHROEDER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, according to the New York Times today 
the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct is beginning to allow 
and agree that they must appoint on outside counsel to investigate 
Speaker Newt Gingrich. The only question is what kind of authority will 
this outside counsel have? I ask unanimous consent to put in the Record 
at this point the Speaker's prior precedents that he had in 1988 when 
the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct last engaged in an 
investigation on a prior Speaker.
  Mr. Speaker, in every single one of the Speaker's demands to the 
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct he said the outside counsel 
must have full authority. Those eight demands must be followed in this 
case, too, because no one could have said it better than Speaker 
Gingrich said at that time is his letter to the Committee on Standards 
of Official Conduct. He said:

       The rules normally applied by the Ethics Committee to an 
     investigation of a typical Member are insufficient in an 
     investigation of the Speaker of the House . . . Clearly this 
     investigation has to meet a higher standard of accountability 
     and integrity.

  Mr. Speaker, if it was true in 1988, it is true in 1995.

               Gingrich Insists on Thorough Investigation

       Washington, DC.--Congressman Newt Gingrich (R-GA) today 
     insisted that the House Ethics Committee give the special 
     counsel appointed to investigate House Speaker Jim Wright the 
     independence necessary to do a thorough and complete job. 
     Discouraged by several news reports that special counsel 
     Richard Phelan would be restricted in the scope of his 
     investigation, Gingrich took a series of actions including 
     writing to House Ethics Committee Chairman Julian Dixon (D-
     CA), forwarding the letter to his colleagues in the House, 
     and speaking on the House floor on the need for a truly 
     independent counsel with full leeway in pursuing the 
     investigation.
       In his letter to Chairman Dixon, Gingrich wrote:
       ``I have a number of concerns regarding the Ethics 
     Committee's contract with and instructions for the special 
     counsel hired to conduct the investigation into Speaker Jim 
     Wright's questionable financial dealings.
       ``First, I am concerned that the scope, authority, and 
     independence of the special counsel will be limited by the 
     guidelines the Ethics Committee has established.''
       Gingrich agreed with concerns raised by Common Cause 
     Chairman Archibald Cox in a letter to Chairman Dixon earlier 
     this week. The Common Cause letter urged the Ethics Committee 
     to ``commit itself to the following measures:
       1. The outside counsel shall have full authority to 
     investigate and present evidence and arguments before the 
     Ethics Committee concerning the questions arising out of the 
     activities of House Speaker James C. Wright, Jr.;
       2. The outside counsel shall have full authority to 
     organize, select, and hire staff on a full- or part-time 
     basis in such numbers as the counsel reasonably requires and 
     will be provided with such funds and facilities as the 
     counsel reasonably requires;
       3. The outside counsel shall have full authority to review 
     all documentary evidence available from any source and full 
     cooperation of the Committee in obtaining such evidence;
       4. The Committee shall give the outside counsel full 
     cooperation in the issuance of subpoenas;
     
[[Page H9222]]

       5. The outside counsel shall be free, after discussion with 
     the Committee, to make such public statements and reports as 
     the counsel deems appropriate;
       6. The outside counsel shall have full authority to 
     recommend that formal charges be brought before the Ethics 
     Committee, shall be responsible for initiating and conducting 
     proceedings if formal charges have been brought and shall 
     handle any aspects of the proceedings believed to be 
     necessary for a full inquiry;
       7. The Committee shall not countermand or interfere with 
     the outside counsel's ability to take steps necessary to 
     conduct a full and fair investigation; and
       8. The outside counsel will not be removed except for good 
     cause.''
       Gingrich wrote to Chairman Dixon, ``It is my impression 
     from press reports that the Ethics Committee has specifically 
     failed to meet the Common Cause standard. Furthermore, it is 
     my understanding that the special counsel cannot go beyond 
     the six areas outlined in your June 9, 1988, Resolution of 
     Preliminary Inquiry. This leads me to believe that the 
     special counsel will not be allowed to investigate the 
     questionable bulk purchases of Mr. Wright's book, 
     `Reflections of a Public Man,' as a way to circumvent House 
     limits on outside income.
       ``I am particularly concerned that the unusual purchases by 
     the Teamsters Union, the New England Mutual Life Insurance 
     Co., a Fort Worth developer, and a Washington lobbyist will 
     not be investigated.
       ``I believe many will perceive this action as an attempt by 
     the Ethics Committee to control the scope and direction of 
     the investigation.''
       Gingrich requested a copy of the contract arranged between 
     the Ethics Committee and Mr. Phelan. He also asked to know 
     the extent of Mr. Phelan's subpoena power.
       Gingrich said, ``The House of Representatives, as well as 
     the American public, deserve an investigation which will 
     uncover the truth. At this moment, I am afraid that the 
     apparent restrictions placed on this special counsel will not 
     allow the truth to be uncovered.
       ``The rules normally applied by the Ethics Committee to an 
     investigation of a typical Member are insufficient in an 
     investigation of the Speaker of the House, a position which 
     is third in the line of succession to the Presidency and the 
     second best powerful elected position in America. Clearly, 
     this investigation has to meet a higher standard of public 
     accountability and integrity.''

     

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