Arlen Specter: “My question, I say to Senator Nickles, relates to the consequences of a resignation. I commend you for the statement…”

“My question, I say to Senator Nickles, relates to the consequences of a resignation. I commend you for the statement which you have just made. I have joined others in the call for an independent counsel. And, in fact, when questioning Attorney General Reno on July 15 of this year--2 weeks ago on Wednesday--I asked her about specific cases and had an extensive chart which showed the justification for an independent counsel. Then, because of the limitation of time, I mentioned only two cases, one where a memorandum had come from the Democratic National Committee to the White House identifying five people who were identified as being good for $100,000 each. The President initialed it. The Democratic National Committee called for a coffee. It was held in the Oval Office. Within a few days thereafter, four of the five contributed $100,000-- specific and credible evidence. And the Attorney General responded she would get back to me, which I said surprised me because it was a well-known matter. The second matter that I called to her attention--of only two because of the limitation of time--involved John Huang, where the photograph appeared and Carl Jackson, formerly of the NSC, National Security Staff, commented that Huang, in the presence of the President in the White House had said ``Elections are expensive, and we expect people to contribute.'' I have pressed for a mandamus act which I will not discuss now. I have on prior occasions.…”