IV
House Calendar No. 145
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. RES. 355
[Report No. 105–416]
Dismissing the election contest against Loretta Sanchez.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 12, 1998
Mr. THOMAS, from the Committee on House Oversight, reported the following
resolution; which was referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed
RESOLUTION
Dismissing the election contest against Loretta Sanchez.
Whereas credible allegations by contestant Robert Dornan of
election fraud in the 46th Congressional District of Cali-
fornia were received by the House of Representatives and
an investigation has been conducted under the authority
of the Federal Contested Election Act;
Whereas that investigation was repeatedly hindered and de-
layed by the lack of cooperation by the Department of
Justice, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and
key witnesses;
•HRES 355 RH
Whereas the delay and lack of cooperation included the
following:
(1) The refusal of the Immigration and Naturaliza-
tion Service to provide any information to the Committee
on House Oversight until the Service was subpoenaed
and the failure 8 months after the subpoenas to provide
the accurate information needed by the Committee.
(2) The refusal of key witnesses to provide evidence
under the provisions of the Federal Contested Election
Act.
(3) The refusal of the Department of Justice, in
complete disregard of a resolution passed by the House
of Representatives, to enforce the Federal Contested
Election Act by prosecuting any of the 11 witnesses who
refused to comply with the provisions of such Act which
require production of evidence on a timely basis;
Whereas despite the lack of full cooperation from witnesses
and government agencies, the investigation of the election
contest in the 46th Congressional District of California
has resulted in evidence that over 700 illegal votes were
cast in that election, including votes cast by persons who
were not citizens of the United States;
Whereas the evidence of illegal voting comes from the
following sources:
(1) The Registrar of Voters of Orange County has
indicated that 124 absentee ballots were cast illegally in
the November 1996 General Election.
•HRES 355 RH
(2) The Committee on House Oversight’s compari-
son of Immigration and Naturalization Service records
and Orange County voter registration records provide
evidence that more than 600 additional votes were
illegally cast in that election;
Whereas the number of votes shown to be illegal by clear and
convincing evidence is less than the post-recount 979 vote
margin by which the election was decided;
Whereas it is critical that the incidence of illegal voting be
reduced and eliminated in future elections and that the
ability of investigators in future election contests to
detect and punish voter fraud be enhanced;
Whereas the Committee on House Oversight should continue
its investigation of illegal voting practices and rec-
ommend to the House of Representatives legislative
measures to reduce voter fraud and improve the integrity
of the voting process; and
Whereas the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee
on Appropriations should closely examine the operations
of the Department of Justice and the Immigration and
Naturalization Service to ensure that proper steps are
being taken to enforce the laws of the United States and
accurately provide information on the citizenship status
of individuals, as required by Federal law: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the election contest of Robert Dornan,
contestant, against Loretta Sanchez, contestee, relating to
the office of Representative from the 46th Congressional
District of California, is dismissed.
House Calendar No. 145
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. RES. 355
[Report No. 105–416]
RESOLUTION
Dismissing the election contest against Loretta
Sanchez.
FEBRUARY 12, 1998
Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed