    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [October 1, 1996]
    [Page 1735]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1735]]

    Statement on Signing Legislation on Witness Retaliation,
    Witness Tampering, and Jury Tampering
    October 1, 1996

        Today I am pleased to sign H.R. 3120, legislation to protect the
    integrity of our legal system and ensure the safety of our families.
        The United States is a nation of laws. We have always been committed
    to making our legal system the best, the most effective, and the fairest
    in the world.
        In the last 3\1/2\ years, we have worked hard to live up to that
    fundamental obligation--putting more police on the street; getting gangs
    and guns and drugs off the street; introducing tougher penalties for a
    wide range of crimes; appointing more judges with the American Bar
    Association's top rating than any administration in 20 years.
        Today we take an important new step. This legislation dramatically
    increases the punishment for those who would influence, tamper with, or
    retaliate against witnesses, jurors, and court officers in Federal
    criminal cases.
        Let me be very clear: The integrity of our legal system depends on
    the integrity of our courts. And the integrity of our courts depends on
    individual citizens serving as impartial jurors--free from intimidation
    or temptation. We must see to it that juries decide cases based only on
    evidence presented in the courtroom. Our prosecutors must have a fair
    chance to make their case. Our fight against crime is too important, our
    system of justice too sacred, the security of our people too vital, for
    justice to be denied because a jury has been tampered with.
        With this legislation, we send a simple message to those who would
    abuse our system of justice: When the integrity of our laws and the
    safety our people are at stake, we will take no chances.

    Note: H.R. 3120, approved October 1, was assigned Public Law No. 104-
    214.