Ernest Istook: “I hear people saying, ``Oh, we will destroy the institution'' if we are asked to have Congress follow the same laws and…”

“I hear people saying, ``Oh, we will destroy the institution'' if we are asked to have Congress follow the same laws and rules and standards that apply to everyone else. The problem is that Congress seems dead set on destroying itself, and it has got to be changed. I remember back in the Watergate scandal the so-called Saturday Night Massacre, because the counsel was not independent and could be removed and only acted at the pleasure of the Attorney General. And it is correct, as the gentleman from Ohio pointed out, that any President needs Members of Congress and their support to accomplish his agenda and, therefore, wants to be on good terms with them and has reservations about anything that might step on their toes such as a criminal indictment. And making it optional? Will that happen? Look at what is going on. Look at what has happened with the House Post Office. Seven months ago there was a guilty plea in Federal Court by the former Postmaster of this institution, who took three counts of conspiring with Members of Congress to embezzle taxpayers' money. It was tens of thousands of dollars. Where are the indictments? They are not there.”