[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 21, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H5968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 JUDGE STARR ONCE PRAISED BY DEMOCRATS

  (Mr. GUTKNECHT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, let us listen to what some people have 
said about Judge Ken Starr's character and integrity. I quote, ``Starr 
has the confidence of most of those of us who know him and, I suspect, 
the confidence of most of us in the Senate.'' A Republican? No. That 
was Senator James Exon, Democrat of Nebraska.
  Here is another, and I quote, ``Judge Starr is certainly a neutral 
party. No one, I think, has accused him of being on a fishing 
expedition.'' A Republican? No. That was Senator John Kerry, Democrat 
of Massachusetts.
  Mr. Speaker, these two comments represent many, many comments made by 
Democrats about Judge Ken Starr's character back in 1993 when Judge 
Starr was asked to investigate sexual misconduct charges against former 
Senator Bob Packwood on behalf of the Ethics Committee.
  Democrats once praised Judge Starr, but now they either criticize him 
or stand silent in the face of White House attacks on his character. 
What has changed? Well, it could be that Democrats praised Judge Starr 
because he was investigating a Republican. We can only wonder.

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