CITES CONTRACT WITH AMERICA REQUIRING ALL LAWS SHOULD APPLY TO CONGRESS AS WELL

Washington, May 31, 2006 - "When the Republicans took control of Congress after the 1994 elections, we acted upon our Contract With America; the first item on the Contract was to 'require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress,'" stated Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala). "I believe that the Justice Department's actions were legal and necessary because Rep. Jefferson failed to cooperate with investigators and failed to turn over subpoenaed documents."

Added Stearns, "This search was conducted under a court order and secured important evidence in an alleged bribery case. I believe that any citizen videotaped accepting an alleged bribe would receive the same treatment - there should be no exception for a member of Congress."

"This is an ongoing criminal investigation that should be handled by law enforcement and by the Courts without any Congressional delay of the proceedings," continued Stearns. "Furthermore, I disagree with the President's order to withhold the evidence from prosecutors for 45 days and with Congress asking the Attorney General to justify his Department's actions in this case."

"If Congressional leaders insist that this is an issue of separation of powers under the Constitution, then they should contest this case through the judicial process while allowing the criminal investigation to proceed," concluded Stearns.
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