December 10, 1998

The Honorable Tom Bliley
Chairman
Committee on Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Joe Barton
Chairman
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairmen Bliley and Barton:

Thank you for providing us with a draft of the 97 page Republican staff memorandum on the Portals matter. The memorandum reaffirms and reinforces, in great detail, that this investigation was and is nothing more than a partisan attack, a significant waste of taxpayer dollars, and a diversion from issues of direct and immediate importance to the American people. As we noted often during the hearings, and as the Subcommittee Chairman occasionally acknowledged, the Subcommittee had failed to provide any evidence of illegalities or improprieties. (Mr. Klink's October 21, 1998, extension of remarks and selected opening statements, are attached.)

The Majority staff apparently continues to hope that someone will believe that its allegations are true because it says so regardless of witness testimony, documentary evidence, and the law. The staff's memorandum is riddled with strained factual and legal contentions; misquotes; selective, incomplete and misleading citations from both the formal record and unpublished staff interviews of people who never appeared before the Subcommittee; selective, incomplete and misleading citations from unpublished staff interviews of witnesses who did not testify as the Majority had hoped; and pseudo-legal analyses saying that anyone who disagrees with the Majority is a criminal conspirator, perjurer and obstructor of Congressional justice. This memorandum is little more than the dying gasp of a failed investigation. The only good news is that sending the information to the Department will put the matter in the hands of objective and competent lawyers and investigators, and the Subcommittee can move on to more useful work.

Because the memorandum was never discussed, much less voted upon, by the Subcommittee, we would appreciate your informing all recipients, including the Justice Department, that it is solely a Majority staff product rather than a Subcommittee product. If you present any Member views on the report, please also inform the recipients that you do not speak for the Democratic Members. Finally, the Minority Members are concerned that the numerous allegations of criminal acts in your staff memorandum may be libelous. We take no position on whether, or to what extent, Speech or Debate Protections may extend to its dissemination.

We would appreciate it if you would include this letter and its attachments should you decide to finalize and distribute the Majority staff report.

Sincerely,

JOHN D. DINGELL
RANKING MEMBER
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE

RON KLINK
RANKING MEMBER
SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT
AND INVESTIGATIONS

Attachments

cc: Members, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

Back to the Public Record Home Page