Michael Synar: “let me share with my colleagues, the letter of February 23, 1994, from U.S. Attorney Eric Holder, who I think points out…”

“let me share with my colleagues, the letter of February 23, 1994, from U.S. Attorney Eric Holder, who I think points out why we should not take the course that the gentleman from Oklahoma suggests today. He says, ``Like my two immediate predecessors as U.S. Attorney for this district, Jay B. Stephens,'' and I might point out, a Republican appointee, ``and J. Ramsey Johnson,'' a court-appointed appointee, ``I urge the House to refrain from such actions.'' He goes on to say, ``My request is all the more urgent now, as this important investigation is in its final stages and will be concluded in the near future.'' On the second page he says, Inquiry into these matters by a committee of the House would pose a severe risk to the integrity of the criminal investigation. * * * Such interviews could jeopardize the criminal probe in several respects, including the dangers of congressional immunity, of Speech-or-Debate issues, and of unwarranted public disclosure of matters at the core of the criminal investigation. He concludes with these words, ``I make that request of you again now, in the strongest possible terms * * * in order to aviod compromising that investigation at this late stage''.”