Sam Gibbons: “Americans deserve the truth and they deserve an answer. Did the Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt wield political…”

“Americans deserve the truth and they deserve an answer. Did the Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt wield political power in exchange for the promise of a campaign contribution? Did the order to do so come from the White House? These are very serious questions that the American people deserve to have answered. Well, let us ask Secretary Babbitt. First he says, ``No.'' Then he says, ``Yes, I did it, but I was only doing as I was told.'' Now the answer approved by the White House is, ``I don't know.'' Well, how many scandals and how many allegations of criminal wrongdoing will the executive branch of this Government respond to with, ``I don't know''? Well, maybe this Congress should instruct the Centers for Disease Control to investigate the rampant selective loss of memory in this administration. However, Mr. Speaker, I am here to say enough is enough. American people deserve the truth. I urge Attorney General Reno to appoint an independent counsel to investigate the alleged wrongdoings of Secretary Bruce Babbitt.”