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Gingrich troubled by allegations { September 17 1996 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.house.gov/waters/pr226cr.htmhttp://www.house.gov/waters/pr226cr.htm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 1996 CONTACT: Leah Allen
(202) 225-2201
STATEMENT OF REP. MAXINE WATERS
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Press Conference on C.I.A./Contra/Crack Connection
Thank you all very much for coming this morning.
I am joined by my colleagues, Rep. Mel Watt, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., and Rep. Elijah Cummings.
We would like to bring you all up to date on developments relating to the charges and allegations raised by the San Jose Mercury News involving the C.I.A, the Nicaraguan Contras, and the introduction of crack cocaine into South-Central Los Angeles and other inner city areas.
We will be holding a series of these press conferences to brief all of you on the most recent activities related to this matter.
Today, I would like to report that we are calling on this House to pass legislation authorizing an Iran-Contra-type Select Committee to investigate the charges raised by reporter Gary Webb from the San Jose Mercury News, and others, regarding this government's knowledge of drug-related activities in the early 1980s -- connected to the C.I.A.'s early efforts to fund the anti-Sandinista rebels in Nicaragua.
These efforts should be bi-partisan and exhaustive.
We believe the proper investigation of these serious charges reflects on the integrity of this institution. As such, we have also prepared, and are ready to introduce, a privileged resolution calling for the beginning of a thorough investigation of these charges in this session of Congress.
Second, I would like to report on a conversation I had last evening with Speaker Newt Gingrich. As some of you might know, I had written to the Speaker requesting his support for our resolution calling for a Select Committee investigation.
Speaker Gingrich informed me that he had read the material relating to this case. He said he was deeply troubled by the allegations. He asked that I brief his leadership people on the details, which I agreed to do. That briefing will take place tomorrow.
Moreover, the Speaker said that something with implication this profound, something this sinister must be examined. He said he favored holding hearings -- hearings that I have formally requested -- by the Intelligence Committee of the House.
Finally, I had another conversation with C.I.A. Director John Deutch yesterday. During that conversation, the CIA Director agreed to form a working group of national leaders to develop a process that will explore the best mechanism by which we can investigate the information relating to this affair.
Obviously, we are seeing movement. In recent days, many community groups, elected officials, and media representatives have joined the chorus calling for a full investigation of this matter. Some -- but not all -- of those include Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey, Mayor Willington Webb, NAACP President Kweisi Mfume, the Pennsylvania Black Caucus, Sen. Diane Feinstein, Sen. Barbara Boxer, Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald, Rep. Neil Abercrombie, the Sacramento Bee - which editorialized for Congressional hearings, Rev.Jesse Jackson, and the New Interfaith Commitment of Chicago.
This issue has captured the public's attention.
Let me now introduce today's other speakers.
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