Paul Coverdell: “on Wednesday, July 3, which, incidentally, was the cost-of-Government day, which means the last day after which an…”

“on Wednesday, July 3, which, incidentally, was the cost-of-Government day, which means the last day after which an American family finally quit paying Government--July 4 took on a special meaning because it was not only Independence Day, but because it is the first day a family could keep its own check. But, interestingly enough, in the midst of all the debate, a very interesting editorial appeared in the Washington Post, which characterizes itself as an independent newspaper. On July 3, the Washington Post said, ``FBI Files and the ex-FBI Author.'' That was the name of the article. It says: Controversy swirls around both [these issues], but it ought to be possible to separate the probe of the improperly requisitioned FBI reports by the Clinton White House from the effort to sort out fact from fiction in former FBI agent Gary Aldrich's book about life at the White House. I agree with this. I agree that the commentary of a popular book ought to be separate from the very, very serious issue of hundreds of our citizens' personal FBI files going to the--hundreds. At this time the current number keeps going up. It started out 300. Then it went to 407. Then it went to 600. Then 700. The last report I have seen is 900. It is almost beyond belief. Both that the White House could request those personal files and that those files could be violated by our own Federal Bureau of Investigation.…”