[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H2934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CAMPAIGN FINANCE INVESTIGATION

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Burton), the chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight apologized to his Republican colleagues for the uproar over 
his release of the Hubbell tapes.
  The gentleman from Indiana also announced the removal of his chief 
investigator. However, it is not enough for the gentleman from Indiana 
to fire his chief staff person. He should have removed himself from any 
further role in this investigation. The staff person did not release 
the tapes; the gentleman from Indiana did. The staff person did not 
change and edit the tapes, the gentleman from Indiana did.
  The gentleman from Indiana claims immunity from prosecution because 
he is a Congressman. If an ordinary person had released or changed the 
tapes, it would be a crime, obstruction of justice, and they would go 
to jail. The gentleman from Indiana uses his position as a Congressman 
to assert immunity, claiming, in effect, that he is above the law.
  At a minimum, the gentleman from Indiana should be removed from any 
further role in this investigation. He clearly cannot operate as 
chairman in a fair manner. Neither he nor any other Member of this 
House is above the law.

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