Political Quotes

“I rise tonight to unfortunately relate to my colleagues my concern about the conviction of an American citizen in Russia by the name of Ed Pope. Ed Pope is an academic affiliated with Penn State University who had a distinguished career in our military and who was simply doing research and marketing work with Russian institutions when he was arrested without reason earlier this year, put in a prison in Moscow without proper medical care, without proper attention. In spite of cancer, in spite of an illness that his father has that is terminal, in spite of the pleadings of many of us on both sides of the aisle, in particular the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson), who represents Ed Pope and his family, Ed Pope was convicted this week and given a sentence of 20 years in Russia's prisons. Mr. Speaker, Ed Pope is not a criminal. Ed Pope is innocent. I have copies of the contracts that Ed Pope had signed with Russian agents in charge of Russian institutes who had empowered him to work to market Russia's underwater propulsion technology. During Ed Pope's trial, the chief witness against him recanted his testimony. In fact, the defense attorney for Ed Pope provided information on what Ed Pope was marketing was available in open sources in this country. In fact, everyone involved with this case understands that Ed Pope is an innocent man.”