Sam Gibbons: “I am deeply troubled today to learn that Vice President Gore may have broken the law and jeopardized United States…”

“I am deeply troubled today to learn that Vice President Gore may have broken the law and jeopardized United States national security. U.S. weapons proliferation law requires that the Congress be notified of the terms of the letter of agreement which Mr. Gore signed with Russian Prime Minister Chernomyrdin regarding Russia's nuclear cooperation with Iran, a known terrorist nation. What is worse is that, as a direct result of the secret agreement between Mr. Gore and the Prime Minister of Russia, Russia evaded U.S. sanctions against weapons proliferation. Even the Secretary of State admitted that without this signed agreement, 'Russia's conventional arms sales to Iran would have been subject to sanctions based on various provisions of our laws.' It is appalling to me and to the American people that this type of deception and deceit has become so commonplace in this administration. The flagrant deceit and illegal agreement made by the Vice President may have put our national security in deep jeopardy.”