[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 106 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  MR. STARR: END THE UNFAIR LEAKS NOW

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 31, 1998

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, Ken Starr's four year, $40 million 
investigation of the President repeatedly has been plagued by leaks, 
some of which have been patently untrue. The leaking has become so 
intolerable that it now threatens the very integrity of the Independent 
Counsel's work. For this, Mr. Starr has no one to blame but himself.
  From the very beginning of his investigation, it is now known, the 
Independent Counsel and his staff have actively courted the media. They 
have admitted talking to reporters on an off-the-record basis about 
matters that would be coming before the grand jury, and they discussed 
how to provide substantive information to at least one journalist, who 
actually tape recorded that conversation. Meanwhile, as all of this was 
going on in the Independent Counsel's office, Mr. Starr was publicly 
and vigorously denying any such leaks. In fact, he said that leaks were 
a reason to fire people from their jobs in his office.
  Leaking is not an inconsequential matter. It creates harm to the 
reputation of the individual who is the subject of the leak, and also 
to the Independent Counsel's ability to do his work. Mr. Starr is bound 
by law and ethical rules not to release grand jury information. That is 
because even the media focus that results from these leaks is enough to 
harm innocent people.
  In January of this year, it was commonly assumed by the media and the 
general public that someone in the White House, almost certainly Deputy 
White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey, had participated in drafting the 
talking points supposedly given to Linda Tripp by Monica Lewinsky. 
These talking points were reputed to be the centerpiece of an 
obstruction of justice case that was being put together by the 
Independent Counsel. Speculation was rampant that Mr. Lindsey was 
headed toward a criminal indictment. But this speculation, fueled by 
off-the record comments, has finally been laid to rest. We have now 
learned that Ms. Lewinsky apparently wrote the talking points herself 
without any participation by anyone in the White House.
  In the instance of attorney Vernon Jordan, there were numerous leaks 
implying that he was at the center of a conspiracy to find Ms. Lewinsky 
a job in New York. He was repeatedly called before the grand jury, but 
now it is being reported that Mr. Jordan is not a target of the 
Independent Counsel's investigation. While the charges made about him 
have finally melted away, what about the damage to his reputation, 
which previously was based on his distinguished record of service to 
the Bar?
  There are other examples, but hopefully we have seen the last of 
these improper leaks from the Independent Counsel's office.

                          ____________________