United States

House of Representatives

Committee on the Judiciary

Henry J. Hyde, Chairman

HENRY HYDE RESPONDS TO

(WASHINGTON) - U.S. Rep. Henry J. Hyde (R-IL), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, made the following statement today in response to attacks by White House officials on the impeachment proceedings of the Judiciary Committee:

The White House press agents have dramatically stepped up their attacks on the House Judiciary Committee just as it prepares to begin deliberations on articles of impeachment. This is certainly unfortunate, but it sadly comes as no surprise. From the very beginning of the impeachment inquiry, those who would defend the President at all costs have preferred to attack the process rather than address the facts. I want to assure everyone that we will not be intimidated by rhetoric or name-calling, and we will complete our duty in accordance with the Constitution.

The Democrats are now describing our actions as "chaotic." This is amusing because "chaos" is the best word to describe the Democrats' responses to the discharge of our duties. How else could one describe statements that seem to flip back and forth 180 degrees on a minute-by-minute basis? Here are just some of the best examples of Democrat double-speak:

• Democrats complain that our inquiry is "just about sex," but when we seek to broaden its scope beyond the Lewinsky matter -- pursuant to House Resolution 581 -- they go ballistic.

• We have been accused of wanting to delay our proceedings, and yet we are charged with not calling enough witnesses. Moreover, a few days before Committee deliberations, we are told the White House may want to call many witnesses.

• If we seek depositions, we are criticized; if we don't seek depositions, we are criticized.



• We are criticized for not calling any "fact witnesses," despite the mounds of grand jury testimony in our possession. But when we ask Committee Democrats if they would like us to call any witnesses, their answer is "no."



• The Democrats' own impeachment resolution set a deadline of Thanksgiving, but now as the prospect of impeachment looms large, they are accusing us of rushing to judgment.



• Committee Republicans are characterized as partisan, but throughout the process Democrats have been lock-step with the White House and afraid to even glance at the Justice Department's campaign finance abuse memoranda.



• Committee Democrats are now demanding that Judge Starr release sensitive investigative information to them after vigorously complaining that he "improperly discussed sealed matters before the Committee."

In sum, our inquiry is either too broad or too narrow, too slow or too fast, Judge Starr is either talking too little or too much. Now, that's my definition of chaos. One gets the impression from the Democrats that the left hand doesn't know what the far left hand is doing.

Once again, let me say that we are on target to finish this inquiry by the end of the year. We have stayed our course and we will finish the job we have been assigned in accordance with the Constitution.

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