[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 50 (Wednesday, April 29, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H2595-H2596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             WHY DO DEMOCRATS WANT TO BLOCK INVESTIGATION?

  (Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, last week 19 House Democrats on the 
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight voted in lock step to 
block immunity to four essential witnesses. Over 90 people in this 
investigation have taken the fifth amendment or fled the country, and 
the only way the Americans can get to the truth of it is to give 
immunity to some of the witnesses who have not fled the country. So why 
have the Democrats voted against it? Why do they want to block the 
investigation?
  Here is the letter from the Justice Department saying they had no 
problems given Irene Wu, Nancy Lee and Larry Wong immunity if they 
testify, but 19 House Democrats have blocked it. Why are they trying to 
obstruct justice? Maybe because of this.
  The President's own attorney general has appointed six independent 
counsels on this particular administration, and these independent 
counsels have brought results: the Whitewater investigation, eleven 
guilty pleas, three convictions, two indictments pending; the Espy 
investigation, six guilty pleas, six convictions, three indictments 
pending; the Cisneros investigation, one guilty plea, six indictments 
pending.
  Maybe that is why the 19 House Democrats voted lock step to keep the 
truth from the American people and obstruct justice in their own 
partisan way.

[[Page H2596]]

                                        Department of Justice,

                                  Washington, DC., April 16, 1998.
     Mr. Richard D. Bennett,
     Chief Counsel, Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, 
         Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Bennett: I am writing in response to your letter 
     of April 7, 1998, requesting the Department of Justice's 
     position on the granting of immunity to Larry Wong. The 
     Department of Justice has no opposition to the Committee 
     granting immunity to Mr. Wong. We appreciate greatly your 
     coordinating with us on this matter.
           Sincerely,

                                              Mark M. Richard,

                                                  Acting Assistant
     Attorney General.
                                  ____



                                        Department of Justice,

                                  Washington, DC., April 16, 1998.
     Mr. Richard D. Bennett,
     Chief Counsel, Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, 
         Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Bennett: I am writing in response to your letter 
     of April 7, 1998, requesting the Department of Justice's 
     position on the granting of immunity to Nancy Lee. The 
     Department of Justice has no opposition to the Committee 
     granting immunity to Ms. Lee. We appreciate greatly your 
     coordinating with us on this matter.
           Sincerely,

                                              Mark M. Richard,

                                                  Acting Assistant
     Attorney General.
                                  ____



                                        Department of Justice,

                                  Washington, DC., April 16, 1998.
     Mr. Richard D. Bennett,
     Chief Counsel, Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, 
         Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Bennett: I am writing in response to your letter 
     of April 7, 1998, requesting the Department of Justice's 
     position on the granting of immunity to Irene Wu. The 
     Department of Justice has no opposition to the Committee 
     granting immunity to Ms. Wu. We appreciate greatly your 
     coordinating with us on this matter.
           Sincerely,

                                              Mark M. Richard,

                                                  Acting Assistant
     Attorney General.

                          ____________________