[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 111 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MR. STARR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 6, 1998

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, anniversaries are typically a time for 
reflection--a time to think about where we came from and where we are 
going. Yesterday was the fourth anniversary of Mr. Starr's $40 million 
investigation of the President, and it is appropriate that we take a 
moment to reflect upon what the Independent Counsel has done over the 
years, and what he is doing now.
  Four years ago, Mr. Starr was appointed by the Special Division of 
the D.C. Circuit to look into allegations of wrongdoing involving an 
Arkansas land deal called Whitewater. While he did obtain several 
convictions and guilty pleas in that case, I think it is wrong that he 
has never publicly cleared either the President or First Lady. His role 
as Independent Counsel is not simply to charge wrongdoers with crimes, 
but to clear the innocent when the facts warrant it. When the 
Whitewater grand jury in Arkansas finished its business months ago 
without any further indictments, a duty arose to publicly clear the 
President and First Lady of the public smears that have been made 
against them.
  Two-and-a-half years ago, Mr. Starr turned his attention to the 
firing of the White House Travel Office, the so-called Travelgate 
matter. So far, we have not heard a peep from the Independent Counsel 
on Travelgate, even though it is widely reported that there has not 
been any grand jury activity on that front for some time. Once again, 
Mr. Starr has not admitted to the public that the President and First 
Lady were innocent of any wrongdoing.
  Two years ago, Mr. Starr's investigation expanded again, this time to 
whether White House staff may have misused confidential FBI files, the 
so-called Filegate matter. As with Travelgate, we have not heard 
anything from Mr. Starr on this topic, even though there does not seem 
to have been any grand jury activity in some time. But again, no steps 
have been taken to publicly clear anyone in the White House.
  Now, as we know, Mr. Starr is investigating the President's sex life. 
That is unheard of in the history of American politics. I think George 
McGovern said it best this week when he remarked that ``this whole Ken 
Starr shenanigan is a disgrace to the Republic. I find it almost 
impossible to believe that we have a publicly-paid sex policeman roving 
around this country.''
  I couldn't have said it better. After four full years and $40 
million, we are investigating things that are strictly the business of 
the President and the First Lady, and no one else. Mr. Starr, if you 
are going to send a report to Congress, send a report. But let's not 
drag this never-ending investigation on toward another unprecedented 
and unnecessary anniversary.

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