[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H6515]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                      PRIVACY RIGHTS AND FILEGATE

  (Mr. CHABOT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, when the privacy rights of American citizens 
are in jeopardy, partisan politics has no place.
  That is why I stood up to Members of my own party in fighting against 
giving the FBI more leeway to conduct warrantless wiretaps. I have 
opposed the so-called digital telephony scheme which would have 
expanded the FBI's power to eavesdrop on American homes. And I have 
taken on Members of my own party when I fought against the odious 1-
800-BIG-BROTHER employee computer registry plan.
  Thus, I am absolutely astounded by some of the political 
professionals in this town who have rushed blindly to defend the White 
House on this FBI file scandal. There is no excuse for White House 
operatives to rummage through the private FBI background files of 
political opponents. None. People who sacrifice all dignity in order to 
help the White House Stonewall and on filegate lose any right to call 
themselves civil libertarians. It is disgraceful and they should be 
ashamed.

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