August 27, 1998

The Honorable Newt Gingrich
The Speaker
The Honorable Richard A. Gephardt
The Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker and Mr. Minority Leader:

I am writing with respect to the anticipated receipt by the House of a report from Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr. My understanding is that the Speaker is considering an unusual procedure that would limit access to the report and the release of any information it contains.

In my judgment, anything less than full disclosure would be a mistake and would only further undermine public confidence in our ability to conclude this matter fairly and appropriately.

Mr. Starr's report should be made available immediately to all Members of Congress and the public. Mr. Starr and his staff should be called at the earliest possible moment to testify fully and under oath before the Congress on the contents of his report.

More than $40 million of the taxpayer's money has been spent in compiling the report. The document is therefore properly the property of the public. The public's business should always be conducted in open light with the widest possible participation. On a matter of such fundamental Constitutional importance, the Congress should resist any temptation to function as a star chamber.

I will oppose any attempt to change the rules of the House to restrict access to the report. We have waded through a seven-month torrent of leaks and spin from all sides. A measure of secrecy is appropriate and desirable (if not, as here, always attainable) for grand jury proceedings. But if the Congress is going to act on this report, the public should have the information that is the basis for our action. The public is entitled to judge the President -- and us -- on the basis of a full, free and fair disclosure of all available facts.

Sincerely,

JOHN D. DINGELL
RANKING MEMBER

cc: The Honorable Henry J. Hyde
The Honorable John Conyers, Jr.

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