Byron Dorgan: “the majority is bringing to a vote a resolution that urges the Attorney General to begin the process of appointing an…”

“the majority is bringing to a vote a resolution that urges the Attorney General to begin the process of appointing an independent counsel to investigate allegations of illegal fundraising in the 1996 Presidential election campaign. I will oppose this resolution, if it remains unchanged, because it urges an overly narrow, one-sided investigation. Instead, I will support the alternative to be proposed by Senator Leahy. Let us remember that the independent counsel law places the authority to seek an independent counsel in the hands of the Attorney General, and her hands are tied unless certain thresholds are met. I have great faith in the independence and integrity of Janet Reno. She has already invoked the independent counsel process several times during this administration. If and when she believes that the law should be triggered, she will, I am confident, take appropriate action. Yet the majority seeks with this unfortunate resolution to tell her what to do. I hope that the majority will instead accept the alternative resolution being proposed by Senator Leahy. The Leahy amendment would change the majority's resolution in several ways, all for the better. The Leahy amendment suggests that the Attorney General use her best professional judgment to determine whether to invoke the independent counsel process. It asks that she make her decision without regard to political pressures.”