[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 29, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E944-E945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           WHITEWATER VERDICT

                                 ______


                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 29, 1996

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, yesterday's verdicts in the Whitewater 
trial is about more than just the Madison Savings and Loan. The 
investigation does not stand or fall on any one person, one 
transaction, or one trial. Whitewater is about the arrogance of power. 
It is about public officials using their office for personal gain and 
not telling the truth about it.
  The White House is spinning the verdicts already, repeating the lead 
prosecutor's closing argument that the President was not on trial. Yet, 
the total vindication the White House claims is premature. At the very 
least, these indictments prove just how poor the President's judgment 
is. Since coming to office, one of his advisors has been sent to 
prison; two of his close friends and business partners were convicted 
yesterday; and the sitting Governor of Arkansas--the President's hand-
picked successor to the governorship--was also convicted. The people 
the President chooses to surround himself by present yet another 
credibility problem.
  Mr. Speaker, perhaps now we will get down to the bottom of the 
Clintons' involvement in the scandal. A new trial focusing on the 
financing of Governor Clinton's 1990 campaign will begin next month--
and many questions remain unanswered ranging from Mrs. Clinton's 
billing record to alleged jobs-for-contributions trades in the 1990 
Clinton campaign.

[[Page E945]]

  Americans must have faith in their elected officials. They must 
believe that those given the public's trust will use it for the public 
good; that those in power will not abuse this trust, cover up the 
abuse, and then interfere with the investigation.
  The American people take this case seriously. It is time the 
Clintons' did as well.

                          ____________________