Political Quotes

“I am concerned about a statement President Clinton made yesterday that he would not support legislation which would reimburse Billy Dale and the other White House travel office employees' legal bills. His statement is contrary to other White House statements, and I urge him to reconsider this position. Without rehashing the developing Travelgate saga, Members will recall that Billy Dale and six other White House travel employees, all career employees, one a constituent of mine, were fired so that the President's cousin could take over the operation. Those career Federal employees had their good names and their reputations destroyed. One of those employees was charged and the other six were not charged. One was forced to fight the full investigative and prosecuting power of the Federal Government, and was finally acquitted of any wrongdoing by a jury of his peers. Billy Dale and his colleagues racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars of legal fees. According to news stories, the President snapped at a reporter who asked a question about the legal fees, because the President is concerned about his own staff's mounting legal bills. Unlike those others who hold high political offices, however, the fired travel office employees are not able to hold glitzy Hollywood fund-raisers and have the beautiful people donate $1,000 to their legal fees. Again, my constituent was never charged with anything. So I call on the President to make sure that this is signed.”