Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 26, 1974 (2/2)
Impeachment Hearings: House Judiciary Committee, July 26, 1974 (2/2)
[01.03.47] [in to Paul DUKE in studio] DUKE announces that Rep. SARBANES will defend his compromise amendment to the ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT charging OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE in debate. [promos for other PBS programming] [01.07.15--title screen--DUKE in studio] [01.07.34--cut committee room, wide view of bench] The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Maryland is recognized. Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Chairman, I -would like to take a moment or to speak on the substitute. It, of course sets out a substitute for Article I of the resolution of impeachment. think perhaps the thing that I could do that might be most the members of the committee is try to review very quickly the changes encompassed in this substitute as compared with article I as introduced on Wednesday evening.. I appreciate the fact members of the committee have reviewed carefully article I on Wednesday evening and in fact this substitute is in response to that careful examination of article I which has taken place. It is an effort to clarify language, clear up concepts, and this matter in a position where the debate can go more to the substance and less to the form of the article as it is before the committee. If the, members -will follow the original article and will follow the Substitute, there is very little, change in Paragraph 1 other than to clarify the language, The President of the United States." We are using throughout "Committee for the Re-election of the President" which is of course, its proper name and such changes in official references are also made with respect to the Department of Justice. There is stricken in paragraph 2 the phrase "has made it his continuing policy to act" and alternative language inserted so that at the sentence reads, "Subsequent thereto, Richard M. Nixon, using the powers of his high office, Made it his policy, and in furtherance of such policy did act directly and personally and through his close subordinates and agents" et cetera. The language near the bottom of paragraph 2 is amended to read, "to cover up, conceal, and protect those responsible;" There is stricken in paragraph 3 the language "or others" which previously followed the word "following." The means that are set out are illustrative of the policy that is contained in paragraph 2 which is basically the gravamen of this article and it was felt that the use of that language, "or others" was unnecessary and really superfluous. The first subparagraph listed follows essentially the previous language although limited to the investigative officers and employees of the United States. Subparagraph 2 of the substitute was subparagraph 6 of the original article; It, has been placed here in all effort to group together means which seems to be related to one another and it seemed appropriate that it should be listed here with I and rather than further down on the list. This is an effort, obviously, amongst other things. to introduce some additional logic into the structure of this article. Subparagraph 3 is essentially the same as subparagraph 2 of the original proposed article. In subparagraph 4 the language. "or endeavoring to interfere" has been added to the original provision "interfering with the conduct of investigations by the Department of Justice of the United States, th Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force." Two changes clarifying the official titles of those agencies are also made. Subparagraph 5 strikes the language, "and concealing the payment of money" and substitutes "condoning and aquiescing in the surreptitious payment of substantial sums of money." And then this subparagraph which previously went on to read: "for the purpose of obtaining the silence of participants in the illegal entry into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee and other illegal activities" has been amended 'to read "for the purpose of obtaining the silence, or influencing the testimony of witnesses, potential witnesses, or individuals who participated Such illegal entry and other illegal activities. In other words, the scope of that subparagraph encompasses individuals who participated in the influencing of the testimony of witnesses or potential witnesses. Subparagraph 6 of the substitute is identical with subparagraph 5 of the original article with the addition of the words "an agency of the United States" at the end of the sentence. Subparagraph 7 of the, substitute makes some changes in what was formerly subparagraph 8 of the original article. After the language, "disseminating information received from officers of the, Department of Justice of the United States to subjects of investigations" has been added the following new language: "conducted by lawfully"---- The CHAIRMAN. The time of the gentleman has expired. Mr. DENNIS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent the gentleman be given 2 additional minutes [01.14.12]