John Hope Bryant: “I just have to observe that whenever a human being, in the face of the language of the law when it is laid before them…”

“I just have to observe that whenever a human being, in the face of the language of the law when it is laid before them and repeated over and over in terms that anyone could understand, continues to deny what is before their very eyes, there is something afoot other than a legitimate effort to offer an amendment to improve legislation. The law since 1983 has provided that Members of Congress are covered by the independent counsel statute when the Attorney General would like to appoint an independent counsel. My amendment to the Gekas amendment which I will offer in just a moment will continue the law just as it has been, and it has worked well for 15 years. After all, there have been only 13 independent counsels appointed. Notwithstanding that, as I said a moment ago, despite the outburst we heard a moment ago--and I noticed that the Member would not yield to me, apparently for fear that he would hear the words I am about to speak--while considering this matter in the Judiciary Committee last year, we had four people being investigated, I think three convictions had already taken place, and there were also a number of other ones going on at the same time. There has never been any hesitancy to prosecute Members of Congress.”