U.S. House Sexual Misconduct Investigation
U.S. House Sexual Misconduct Investigation
U.S. House Representative Louis Stokes (D-OH) and Attorney Joseph Califano, Jr. walking down a hallway with another middle-aged adult Caucasian male and adult African American female, going into a room with door reading “Committee on Standards of Official Conduct”; middle-aged adult Caucasian male security guard standing outside the doorway.
U.S. House Sexual Misconduct Investigation
Adult African American and Caucasian males and females gathered in front of table stacked with papers and copies of a report; couple of adult African American females grabbing papers from different stacks and organizing them to give to waiting men and women. “U.S. House of Representatives: Committee on Standards of Official Conduct” typed on top page of the report; zoom out to two ladies continuing to organize papers to hand out to the men and women standing around them.
U.S. House Sexual Misconduct Investigation
Adult Caucasian female seated and reading in a U.S. House of Representatives hearing room. Adult Caucasian female and male hands holding pens, flipping through pages of a report placed on their laps.
U.S. House Sexual Misconduct Investigation
Adult Caucasian males kneeling in FG, taking photographs as U.S. House Representatives Louis Stokes (D-OH), Floyd Spence (R-SC), and Attorney Joseph Califano, Jr. stand in front of podium. Rep. Stokes begins the press conference by stating the responsibility of the House to police itself. Announcing reports will be filed to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, regarding the U.S. House sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. Adult, predominantly Caucasian males, kneeling or standing, and filming or taking photographs while adult Caucasian males and females are seated, listening, and reading the report findings on their laps; Rep. Stokes (o/s) providing a background of events leading to this press conference. Line of cameras filming with an adult Caucasian and African American male behind two cameras, adjusting the lens. Rep. Stokes states that he will provide a summary of the investigation and report on three actions that were voted upon by the committee.
U.S. House Sexual Misconduct Investigation
U.S. House Representative Louis Stokes (D-OH) emphasizes the serious nature of the allegations and the steps the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct took to underscore the gravity of the allegations, such as hiring a special counsel; attorney Joseph A. Califano Jr. standing next to Rep. Stokes; adult Caucasian male seated before the dais, re-arranging materials and taking notes. Adult Caucasian and African American male taking photographs. Califano Jr. standing, listening as Rep. Stokes notes that the special counsel has found no evidence of widespread or improper illicit sexual conduct with Congressional Pages by members, officers, or employees of the House of Representatives during the period between July 1981 to June 1982. However, the special counsel did find three cases of sexual misconduct prior to 1981 and provides detail to those cases. Rep. Stokes emphasizes no other cases were found, adds that the committee voted to take the recommendations of the special counsel.
U.S. House Sexual Misconduct Investigation
U.S. House Representative Louis Stokes (D-OH) lists the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct’s recommendations to the whole House of Representatives. Those actions include official reprimand of two congressmen: Reps. Gerry Studds (D-MA) and Daniel Crane (R-IL). Rep. Stokes notes that Rep. Crane has admitted to, under oath, engaging in a sexual relationship with a seventeen-year-old female Congressional Page in 1980. Both parties testified that their relationship was consensual or no preferential treatment of any kind was given to the page. Rep. Studds has also admitted the same, but with a male Congressional page who may have been sixteen back in 1973, and that he made sexual advances to two other teenage male pages in 1973.
U.S. House Sexual Misconduct Investigation
U.S. House Representative Louis Stokes (D-OH) continues listing the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct’s recommendations to the whole House of Representatives which includes disciplinary action for Chief Page of the House, James Howarth, who is charged with having a sexual relationship with a female Congressional page in 1980, who was under his direct supervision, and was given preferential treatment. Howarth is also charged with purchasing cocaine on two separate occasions in 1979 and 1980. Once the committee has completed their disciplinary proceeding, it will report them to the whole House. Rep. Stokes clarifies that the investigation regarding sexual impropriety has concluded, but the investigation into illicit use and distribution of drugs is continuing and the findings will be made public once the investigation is complete. Rep. Stokes then introduces Rep. Floyd Spence (R-SC), ranking minority member on the committee.
U.S. House Sexual Misconduct Investigation
U.S. House Representative Floyd Spence (R-SC) thanks Chairman of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, Rep. Louis Stokes (D-OH) before stating that the actions and recommendation of the committee should provide ample evidence of the Congress’ commitment to the U.S. Constitution and the obligation to deal with improper behavior of its members. Rep. Floyd calls the investigation thorough and impartial both in appearance and fact, and one that was conducted in bipartisan manner. Rep. Stokes then introduces attorney Joseph A. Califano Jr, Special Counsel to the Committee. He states he will not read his entire statement, but stands by it, then proceeds to reference the vote on House Resolution 518.
U.S. House Sexual Misconduct Investigation
Wide view of adult Caucasian and African American, predominantly male, cameramen, filming or taking photographs in FG as Special Counsel to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, Joseph A. Califano Jr. speaks at the podium on details and parameters of the investigation; U.S. House Representatives Louis Stokes (D-OH) and Floyd Spence (R-SC) stand behind him. Adult Caucasian, predominantly males, seated, and either taking notes or listening to Califano (o/s) speak. POV from behind seated adult Caucasian males and females, one adult Caucasian male standing and filming as Califano talks about the time devoted to the investigation and re-iterates previous comments that found no widespread illegal activities among Congressional Pages and House members, staff, or police. He calls many of the allegations made a product of exaggeration, gossip, and fabrication, Califano separates fact from the allegations originally made.
U.S. House Sexual Misconduct Investigation
Special Counsel to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, Joseph A. Califano Jr. continues speaking on the instances of proven wrongdoing, noting they are exceptions to the rule. The three exceptions were atypical of behavior in the House of Representatives between Congressional Pages, members, and employees, and occurred between three and ten years ago. Califano points out that within a ten year period hundreds of members of the House and tens of thousands of employees have interacted with one another and with Congressional Pages, and only three instances of illegal behavior have been uncovered. Califano believes it important to take allegations seriously, and have thorough investigation, especially in light of low public confidence in their governing institutions. If found, wrongdoing must be rooted out. Adult Caucasian female looking down at notes; pan to Califano speaking, who states the House has been fully vindicated and has fully discharged its duties.
U.S. House Sexual Misconduct Investigation
U.S. House Representative Louis Stokes (D-OH) standing. Special Counsel to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, Joseph A. Califano Jr. speaks to the full cooperation of committee members and commends the House of Representatives for submitting itself to such a thorough investigation. Califano Jr. then turns to the three instances of improper sexual conduct between Congressional Pages and Reps. Gerry Studds (D-MA) and Daniel Crane (R-IL).