[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 91 (Thursday, June 24, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7587-S7588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NOMINATION OF RICHARD HOLBROOKE

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am announcing, today, my intention to 
place a hold on the nomination of Mr. Richard Holbrooke to be the next 
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. I would like to explain for the 
benefit of my colleagues why I have done so.
  First, let me explain that I have nothing against Mr. Holbrooke. He 
is simply caught in the middle. The issue can be cleared up very, very 
quickly, if reasonable heads come together.
  At issue is the outrageous treatment by the State Department of one 
of its employees. Her name is Linda Shenwick. She is Counselor for 
Resources Management at the United States U.N. Mission. She is the 
Mission's expert on financial and management matters.
  Ms. Shenwick has been instrumental in bringing to light many of the 
waste and mismanagement issues associated with the U.N. She's been an 
invaluable source of information and insight for the people's branch of 
government. Some people in the State Department, apparently all the way 
to the top, don't much care for Ms. Shenwick's candor with Congress. 
And so they painted a big, ol' target on Ms. Shenwick, and have come 
after her, relentlessly.
  You see, Ms. Shenwick is guilty of committing the crime of telling 
the truth. And when you commit truth, you're history in the State 
Department.
  Here is how the State Department has treated Ms. Shenwick. I'd like 
my colleagues to know this, so they can judge for themselves whether 
this is conduct befitting such a grand institution as the State 
Department.
  Ms. Shenwick has been ``Felix Bloched.'' You remember Felix Bloch. He 
was investigated while under suspicion for espionage. He was put on 
non-duty status while he was investigated. That's now what they've done 
to Ms. Shenwick, effective last Friday at 5:30 pm.
  That's not all. Before kicking her out of her office last week, she 
was not allowed to talk to other employees. They could not talk to her. 
She had to keep her door closed at all times. She could

[[Page S7588]]

not access the main computer in the office. They forced her to fly to 
Washington, with little or no notice, for meetings that didn't occur.
  At the end of this month, Ms. Shenwick must report to a new job in 
Washington, in an area in which she has no background. They know that 
she wants to stay in New York. They seem determined to break this woman 
down. So far, they have not succeeded.
  Mr. President, I have a long-standing practice of taking up the cause 
of witnesses before the Congress who have done the right thing at great 
risk to their careers. Before I do this, I must make sure the 
individual has sufficient credibility, and is being retaliated against 
for their disclosures in the public interest. I have spoken with my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and on both sides of Capitol 
Hill. They all agree she has credibility, and has provided solid, 
accurate information to Congress. It is information that has led to 
management reforms and more effective controls of the U.N. budget. No 
one has ever successfully challenged her information. Instead, the 
Department has attacked her.
  In all the whistleblower cases I have worked over the years, this one 
stands out. I have never seen such a blatant, raw attempt to harass and 
silence a whistleblower who simply told the truth. Can the truth be 
that offensive to the State Department?
  My action to put a hold on the Holbrooke nomination is a contest over 
which message will prevail. By its actions, the message the State 
Department wants to send is fear. Every other employee of the USUN 
Mission has their eyes firmly fixed on this case. The State Department 
wants them to know, if they commit truth like Ms. Shenwick did, that 
they, too, will get the ``Felix Bloch Treatment.'' I guess committing 
truth is just as bad as committing espionage.
  Mr. President, It's my hope that we in this body will intercept that 
message, and send one of our own. The people's right to know the truth 
is what we care about. And those who help Congress know the truth will 
be protected, not punished.
  Until this month, Ms. Shenwick and her attorney had been negotiating 
with the State Department to find her a new job in New York. There was 
some progress, but the Department started negotiating in bad faith. The 
talks broke down, and Ms. Shenwick is being transferred to Washington 
at the end of the month, to a job for which she has no background.
  I am willing to release my hold of the nomination of Mr. Holbrooke 
forthwith. But before that happens, fairness and civility must prevail. 
Good faith negotiations must re-start, and an agreement must be reached 
by both parties. This could happen within 24 hours, if desired.
  In 1997, another member of this body put a similar hold on a nominee 
until the Department resolved Ms. Shenwick's situation. The Secretary 
agreed to resolve the issues and keep Ms. Shenwick at the USUN Mission. 
The hold was lifted. But instead of resolving the matter, the 
harassment continued. And it continues to this day.
  That will not happen again. The hold gets lifted when there's an 
agreement in writing.
  Mr. President, I hope that my colleagues appreciate the 
reasonableness of my position, and the importance of the message that I 
am asking this body to send. I hope I can count on their support in the 
public's best interest. And we can then allow Mr. Holbrooke to get on 
with his important work in New York.

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