Patrick Leahy: “I am troubled that the independent counsel law has itself been corrupted and no longer serves its intended purpose. The…”

“I am troubled that the independent counsel law has itself been corrupted and no longer serves its intended purpose. The law was part of a congressional effort to create a mechanism that would reassure the American people that partisanship was not influencing prosecutorial decisions, and that law enforcement judgment was being exercised by those who did not have an ax to grind either way--by those who approached matters from a law enforcement point of view, and not--not-- from a lodestone set in a partisan rock. I cannot say with confidence that this is the case with the current Whitewater counsel. I look at the continuing and very selective leaks and tactics employed by Mr. Starr's office over the last few years, and particularly over the last few days.”