Ron Klink said "I have seen an abuse by stories that are leaked out to the news media. Mr. Speaker, last week I think was a prime example in the Committee on Commerce, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, when we had, leading up to a hearing on a company called Molten Metals that was associated with two former staffers of the Vice President, news leaks to all the newspapers telling us how, really, they thought these people were guilty. Then we saw a memo from the majority saying in fact they had no evidence, there was no smoking gun, but that this hearing or these hearings provided a wonderful opportunity to get news media, to bring the news media in and make people look like they are guilty, to make these people deny the allegations being brought before them. That is not the way this House is supposed to run. That is not the way a democracy is supposed to run." @ PoliticalQuotes.com

On the recordNovember 12, 1997

I have seen an abuse by stories that are leaked out to the news media. Mr. Speaker, last week I think was a prime example in the Committee on Commerce, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, when we had, leading up to a hearing on a company called Molten Metals that was associated with two former staffers of the Vice President, news leaks to all the newspapers telling us how, really, they thought these people were guilty. Then we saw a memo from the majority saying in fact they had no evidence, there was no smoking gun, but that this hearing or these hearings provided a wonderful opportunity to get news media, to bring the news media in and make people look like they are guilty, to make these people deny the allegations being brought before them. That is not the way this House is supposed to run. That is not the way a democracy is supposed to run.

Said by

Ron Klink

Democratic · Pennsylvania

Source

govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Addressing concerns about media leaks and fairness in congressional hearings.

Share on X Share on Facebook Email this quote