[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 24 (Tuesday, March 10, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              DUE PROCESS

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I try to watch the network news every day. I 
watch some of the political talk shows that cover the strange world of 
Washington, D.C. I keep waiting to see some discussion of 18 U.S. Code, 
section 1503.
  Most people are not lawyers, but there are a lot of lawyers out 
there, including a lot of journalists, who know perfectly well what 18 
U.S. Code, section 1503 means. It is a criminal statute that absolutely 
prohibits government employees from interfering in a Federal 
investigation. Government employees may not attempt to influence, 
obstruct or impede a Federal investigator.
  This is not a controversial law. It is obvious that one may not 
impede or interfere in any way with a Federal investigation. Mafia dons 
may try it, but a person conducting a smear campaign to intimidate or 
discredit judicial officials is in violation of the law. It is not even 
a debatable issue.
  Due process must proceed without interference immediately, period.

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