House Proceeding on Feb 14th, 2008 :: 0:15:34 to 0:19:59
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0:15:21 to 0:15:34( Edit History Discussion )

Louise McIntosh Slaughter: pro tempore: without objection. mr. conyers: ladies and gentlemen of the house, the resolution we are considering today is not steps that i take as chairman easily or lightly. it's been eightig months

0:15:34 to 0:15:46( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: that we have tried to negotiate. nine letters. but this is what is necessary to protect the constitutional prerogatives as a co-equal branch of government in this democracy of ours. i believe the

0:15:34 to 0:19:59( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: John Jr.Conyers

0:15:46 to 0:16:00( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: investigation we have been engaged in is an important one. and it's not about whether the u.s. attorneys can serve at the pleasure of the president, they clearly can and do. but it concerns whether

0:16:00 to 0:16:16( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: the american people can be assured that their laws are being fairly and impartially enforced by the united states department ofep justice. that's why we're here. in order to pursue this

0:16:16 to 0:16:28( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: investigation, we have done what committees in the congress have traditionally done. we have sought our documents and testimonyte initially on a voluntary basis, and through compulsory process

0:16:28 to 0:16:39( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: only as a last resort. the investigation did not begin with the white house but has ended up there only after the review of thousands of pages of documents and obtaining the testimony and interviews

0:16:39 to 0:16:54( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: of nearly 20 current and former department of justice employees. . employees. we have been open at all ltimes to any reasonable compromise andn have been fully respectful and cognizant of the prerogatives

0:16:54 to 0:17:08( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: of the executive brthanch. as a matter of fact, i haveac written the white house counsel on no less t han nine separate occasions, talked with him seek seeking a compromise on thi cs matter. what

0:17:08 to 0:17:21( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: i am not open to as the chairman of the judiciary is accepting a take-it-or-leave-it offer which would not allow us access to the information that we need, would not even provide for a transcript,

0:17:21 to 0:17:40( Edit History Discussion )

would only prevent us from seeking -- and who prevent us from seeking any additional information in the future. that is the only proposal we'vero ever received from white house counsel. the speaker pro

0:17:40 to 0:17:54( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. ms. slaughter: i yield the gentleman an a dditional minute.in the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman' s recognized for an additionalinute. mr. conyers:

0:17:54 to 0:18:14( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: and so i would hope that all of the members in this body, as an institutional matter matter, recognize the problems inherent in such an approach. now, some may argue that the stakes in this confrontation

0:18:14 to 0:18:26( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: -- and i think that's what's been suggested already -- are so high-- that we cannoet afford the risk that we might lose. well, i'd say to them that if we countenance a process where our subpoenas can

0:18:26 to 0:18:43( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: be readily ignored ignored, where a witness under a due ally authorize ed subpoena doesn't even have to bother to ow up or tell us that they're not coming, when privilege ck can be asserted on the thinnest

0:18:43 to 0:18:54( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: of basis and in the broadest possible manner, then we've already lost. this is not a matter of vindicate ing the judiciary committee. and if you're really concerned about congress' rights, which i,

0:18:54 to 0:19:08( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: think all of us arein, you would contact the white house counsel office. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from florida. mr.

0:19:08 to 0:19:18( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: diaz-balart: mr. speaker, i yield four minutes to the distinguished ranking member ofra theth judiciary committee, mr. mr. smith of texas. the speaker pro tempore: thehe gentleman from texas is i

0:19:18 to 0:19:33( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: recognized for four minutes. mr. smith: madam speaker, i rise in strong opposition to the rule rule. yesterda y, house democrats said that congress does not have enough time to pass critical fisa

0:19:33 to 0:19:47( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: modernization legislation to keep america safe from foreign terrorists. today we are waste ing congress' time on an issue that does nothing to make our nation safer safer. clearly, the democratic majority

0:19:47 to 0:19:59( Edit History Discussion )

John Jr.Conyers: is out of touch with the needs of our intelligence communityni and is place ing americans' lives at risk. on the eve of the expiration of critical intelligence legislation, the house democrat democratic

0:19:59 to 0:20:13( Edit History Discussion )

Lamar S. Smith: majority has chose en to put extreme partisanship ahead of our country's safety. apparently, the democratic majority cares more about the alleged steroid use of a few baseball players and the personnel

0:19:59 to 0:22:01( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Lamar S. Smith