INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN ETHICS PROBE (House of Representatives - September 17, 1992)

[Page: H8689]

(Mr. COMBEST asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks, and include extraneous matter.)

Mr. COMBEST. Madam Speaker, it is my intention on Friday to call up as a question of privilege pursuant to rule IX (rule 9) of the rules of the House, a resolution calling for an investigation by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct into possible unauthorized disclosures by Banking Committee Chairman Henry Gonzalez of classified information in violation of the rules of the House. This resolution updates House Resolution 539, introduced on August 4, by the minority leader, Bob Michel. This update was necessitated by Chairman Gonzalez' latest disclosure on September 14.

It is my hope that the majority leadership will allow a full and open debate on this question, which I consider to have both national and international ramifications. Madam Speaker, I am inserting a copy of my resolution for the Record at this point, as follows:

H. Res. --

Whereas on March 2, 1992, Representative Henry B. Gonzalez knowingly and willfully inserted in the Congressional Record documents of the Executive Branch bearing markings indicating that they were classified for reasons of national security;

Whereas on July 7, 1992, Representative Gonzalez willfully disclosed information from a purported Central Intelligence Agency intelligence document which he publicly acknowledged at that time to be classified;

Whereas on September 14, 1992, Representative Gonzalez willfully disclosed information from a Central Intelligence Agency document classified as `Secret' in its entirety, which he acknowledged is still classified;

Whereas the Director of Central Intelligence, Robert M. Gates, has indicated in writing that Representative Gonzalez's `statement in the Congressional Record on 7 July 1992 included information from a TOP SECRET compartmented and particularly sensitive document' to which the Central Intelligence Agency had given his committee staff access;

Whereas the Director of Central Intelligence further stated in writing to Representative Gonzalez, regarding his July 7, 1992, statement in the Congressional, that, `Because of the sources and methods underlying that information, I will ask for a damage assessment to determine the impact of the disclosure. I regret that you chose to discuss information from classified documents without attempting to determine if we could work out a way to satisfy . . . our need to protect intelligence sources and methods';

Whereas the Acting Director of Central Intelligence, Admiral William O. Studeman, has confirmed in writing to Representative Gonzalez that portions of statements in the Congressional Record by Representative Gonzalez on July 21 and 27, 1992, '`were drawn from classified intelligence documents, some of which are Top Secret, compartmented, and particularly sensitive';

Whereas the Acting Director of Central Intelligence has stated in writing to Representative Gonzalez, regarding his statements in the Congressional Record of July 21 and 27, 1992, that, `I have asked the Office of Security of the Central Intelligence Agency to undertake a review of your statements in order to determine the impact of the disclosures of intelligence information on intelligence sources and methods';

Whereas the Department of State has confirmed in writing that, over a number of days, Representative Gonzalez `inserted into the Congressional Record the full text of at least fourteen classified documents generated by the Department of State,' and the Department of State indicated further that those documents `contain classified information involving sensitive diplomatic discussions';

Whereas the Treasury Department has indicated in writing `very serious concerns' over Representative Gonzalez's `disclosures of classified information in the Congressional Record' which included information from a classified Treasury Department document;

Whereas on numerous other occasions Representative Gonzalez has knowingly and willfully disclosed in the Congressional Record information from Executive Branch documents which are apparently classified for reasons of national security;

Whereas the classified documents in question were apparently made available to the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs by Executive Branch agencies in good faith cooperation with a committee investigation and with the expectation that access would be restricted to persons with appropriate security clearances;

Whereas the public disclosure of information from the classified documents in question was not necessary for legitimate legislative oversight, and the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs apparently has not voted to disclose publicly those classified documents;

Whereas the public disclosure of the contents of the classified documents in question appears to be detrimental to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States;

Whereas the conduct of Representative Gonzalez raises serious questions of possible violations of Clauses 1 and 2 of Rule XLIII (Code of Official Conduct) and possibly of Clause 2(k)(7) of Rule XI (Rules of Procedures for Committee) of the House;

Whereas the knowing, unilateral and unauthorized disclosure of classified information by Representative Gonzalez seriously imperils the spirit of mutual cooperation and trust between the Congress and the Executive Branch so critical to effective legislative oversight;

Whereas the nature and gravity of the conduct of Representative Gonzalez is such that the reputation and dignity of the House as an institution and the integrity of its proceedings, especially its oversight activities, may well be adversely affected;

Whereas Representative Gonzalez willfully continues to disclose publicly information from classified documents; and

Whereas in the interest of a prompt and fair resolution of the serious questions raised regarding the apparent unauthorized disclosure of classified information in seeming violation of the Rules of the House of Representatives: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct is directed to investigate whether Representative Gonzalez has, during the Second Session of the One Hundred and Second Congress, publicly disclosed classified information in the Congressional Record, and in so doing violated the Rules of the House of Representatives or any duly constituted committees. All other committees, and all Members, officers, or employees of the House who may have information relevant to this investigation are directed to cooperate promptly with the Committee on Standards subject to procedures the Committee shall adopt necessary to protect from unauthorized disclosure classified information which may be transmitted to the Committee pursuant to this investigation. The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct shall promptly report its findings and any recommendations to the House.

[TIME: 1200]

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