[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 28, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H8878-H8879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE PRESIDENT SHOULD RELEASE DOCUMENTS ON HIS DECISION TO RELEASE FALN 
                               TERRORISTS

  (Mr. ROYCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, President Clinton will not release documents 
detailing the decision to grant 16 members of the FALN terrorist group 
clemency. The Clinton administration has an obligation to explain why 
it has let these terrorists out of prison. They claim the decision was 
not political and that it had been in the process for years. If so, 
show us the papers.
  By claiming executive privilege, he is telling the American people 
that it is none of their business.
  This is not right. It is the business of the American people. It is 
certainly the business of Detective Anthony Semft, a victim of FALN 
terrorism. The terrorism bomb left the police officer without sight in 
one eye, a 60 percent hearing loss and a fractured hip.
  The House opposed and the Senate deplored the President's actions. 
Virtually every law enforcement agency in

[[Page H8879]]

the country opposed clemency for the FALN terrorists. The Government 
Reform and Oversight Committee asked President Clinton to explain 
himself to the American people, to release the papers that showed why 
this was done, and not hide behind executive privilege. Mr. President, 
release those papers.

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