[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 76 (Tuesday, June 11, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H3303-H3304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        LUDWIG KOONS KIDNAPPING

  (Mr. LAMPSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.
  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I continue my story of Ludwig Koons, the 
young boy who is being held illegally by the Italian Government. Two 
weeks ago, the Minor's Tribunal in Rome denied the request of the 
prosecutor to remove Ludwig's mother, the kidnapper, parental 
authority. Not only is this outrageous, but the court made this 
decision without any psychological evaluation, testimony or other 
discovery whatsoever. The decision was made solely on the superficial 
interview of Ludwig before the judges, which lasted about 15 minutes.
  This decision was made despite the finding that Ludwig was kept from 
having any contact with his father for over 6 months. Ludwig's mother, 
the woman who kidnapped him and is holding him against the will of 
United States courts, argued that Ludwig is afraid of his father, which 
is an absurd, preposterous allegation.
  Jeff Koons's attorneys will be filing an appellate brief before the 
Rome Court of Appeals contesting this decision of the Minor's Tribunal 
as arbitrary and unfounded, which it absolutely is, and which this 
entire 8-year-long ordeal has been.

[[Page H3304]]

  Mr. Speaker, please, I urge Members to join me. Help end this 
tragedy. We cannot stand idly by while American children are being 
kidnapped and held by foreign governments, even if they are our 
friends. Bring our children home.

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