IV

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 238

Calling on the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to conduct an

investigation into activity at the House Post Office to determine whether

House rules were broken or whether public funds were embezzled by

Members.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AUGUST 4, 1993

Mr. ISTOOK (for himself, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. BOEHNER, Mr. BARTLETT of

Maryland, Mr. BAKER of Louisiana, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Ms.

PRYCE of Ohio, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. SMITH of Michigan, Mr. BUYER,

Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. POMBO, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. BLUTE, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. ZELIFF, Mr. GRAMS, and Mr. DELAY) submitted the following

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules

RESOLUTION

Calling on the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct

to conduct an investigation into activity at the House

Post Office to determine whether House rules were broken or whether public funds were embezzled by Members.

Whereas former House Postmaster Robert V. Rota has pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to charges of conspiracy to embezzle

funds of the United States in violation of section 371 of

title 18, United States Code, and of aiding and abetting

embezzlement, in violation of sections 641 and 642 of

title 18, United States Code;
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Whereas court documents in this case contain allegations that

several Members, officers, or employees of the House

were co-conspirators with Mr. Rota, and that Members

received the proceeds of embezzlement, and reveal that

this practice occurred during the 3 prior terms of Congress;

Whereas complete and accurate testimony by Mr. Rota was

not provided to any previous inquiry by this House, and

accordingly has not been examined by a formal House inquiry;

Whereas personnel of the House Post Office allegedly provided illegal cash to certain Members in 3 ways: (1) cash

instead of stamps for official vouchers, (2) cash for postage stamps, which had earlier been purchased with official vouchers, and (3) cash for campaign checks;

Whereas these allegations directly affect the rights of the

House collectively, its safety, dignity, and the integrity of

its proceedings, and the rights, reputation, and conduct

of its Members;

Whereas section 5 of article I of the Constitution gives each

House of Congress responsibility over disorderly behavior

of its Members;

Whereas these allegations, if true, would constitute violations

by Members of the rules of the House and of the Code

of Official Conduct;

Whereas the safety, dignity, and the integrity of the House,

and of public confidence in the House, require that these

allegations receive full inquiry by the House itself;

Whereas the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct has

jurisdiction over current Members, officers, and employees of the House, including investigatory authority, and
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is the appropriate body of this House to conduct any inquiry: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That (a) the Committee on Standards of

2 Official Conduct is instructed to conduct an immediate in3 vestigation of the House Post Office into allegations—

4 (1) that the House Post Office provided cash to

5 any Member in exchange for official vouchers;

6 (2) that the House Post Office provided cash to

7 any Member in exchange for stamps purchased with

8 official vouchers;

9 (3) that the House Post Office provided cash to

10 any Member in exchange for campaign account

11 checks; and

12 (4) that the House Post Office provided cash to

13 any Member in any other way inconsistent with the

14 rules of this House.

15 (b) In pursuing its investigation, the Committee on

16 Standards of Official Conduct shall determine which Mem17 bers are alleged by the former Postmaster to have engaged

18 in improper conduct in connection with the House Post

19 Office, and whether these Members are the subjects of any

20 current investigation by the Department of Justice.

21 (c) The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct

22 shall coordinate its investigation with the related efforts

23 of the Department of Justice. If the Department of Jus24 tice indicates to the committee on writing that any Mem-
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1 ber is the subject of an official investigation, the commit2 tee may defer further inquiry into that Member’s conduct,

3 pending conclusion of the investigation by the Department

4 of Justice.

5 (d) The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct

6 shall file a report to the House of its investigation and

7 findings. This report shall be made available to the public.

Æ