March 17, 2006
Dear Mr. XXX:
Thank you for contacting my office regarding David Barrett's report of the investigation of former Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros. I appreciate you taking the time to inform me of your views on this important issue.
Tony Snow published an article in which he called for the release of David Barrett's findings in the investigation of former Secretary Cisneros. However, Mr. Snow's column was not completely accurate and drew some erroneous conclusions. He claims that Congressman Joe Knollenberg and I negotiated a compromise to keep legislation which would prohibit the Barrett Report from coming to light. This assertion is incorrect on two points in particular.
First, the legislation in question does not suppress the release of the report. In fact, it required the release of the report and set a deadline for its release.
Second, I was not involved in the negotiations related to the Cisneros provision. The appropriate authorizing committee leaders with jurisdiction over the matter negotiated its inclusion and the final wording. On the Senate side, the Finance Committee asked to include the provision. The final language in the Conference Report was included at the request of authorizing committees in the House of Representatives.
I agree with Mr. Snow that the Barrett Report must be published and released to the public. The public has the right to know about corruption and misdeeds within the government. Individuals involved in unethical and illegal activities must face the consequences for their actions.
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me on this important matter. Please feel free to contact me again if I may be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Christopher S. Bond
United States Senator
CSB:jdm
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' ... You know darn well that if this material had been about George Bush, we'd never hear the end of it.'
Seems ye olde GOP is cooperating here and wants to let this report just fade away ... without its full and un-censored release to the American taxpayers who footed the bill.