Ed Royce: “I could not believe my eyes when I read the newspaper this morning that President Clinton had given clemency to 12…”

“I could not believe my eyes when I read the newspaper this morning that President Clinton had given clemency to 12 imprisoned members of the Puerto Rican terrorist organization, the FALN. U.S. policy to terrorists has always been very consistent; it has always been very clear. We must make no concessions to terrorists. That has been the policy, not to pardon terrorists. We should be sending a strong message that terrorism would not be tolerated. As my friend, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant), has pointed out, the FALN was responsible for 130 bombings in the United States that killed six people, at least; injured scores of other Americans; three police officers were maimed for life; two were blinded; one lost a leg while trying to diffuse one of the bombs that the FALN planted in 1982. What does the President have to say to these victims and their families? What does Vice President Gore have to say about releasing these law breakers? All 12 terrorists given clemency were convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy and possession of weapons and possession of explosives. They belong in prison.”