Rostenkowski Calls for Halt to Leaks About Investigation

Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, asked a federal court Monday to order a halt to information leaks in the expanded investigation that focuses on him.

U.S. District Judge John G. Penn immediately sealed legal papers filed by Rostenkowski’s lawyers and U.S. Atty. Jay B. Stephens suggested to reporters that Rostenkowski was trying to divert attention by making the request.

The Washington Post and Cable News Network both reported over the weekend that a federal grand jury has sharply expanded its investigation of Rostenkowski, obtaining access to his bank accounts as well as financial records of his campaign office, congressional offices, business accounts and statements filed with financial institutions.

The examination, apparently aimed at determining Rostenkowski’s net worth to see if he has complied with income tax laws, goes far beyond the scope of the investigation started last spring to see whether the Chicago Democrat and two other House members had obtained cash for personal use at the House post office through purchases of stamps.

Rostenkowski bitterly protested that he is being “tried in the press” despite his denials of wrongdoing and lack of any official notice to his lawyers that he is a target of the investigation conducted at Stephens’ direction.

Stephens denied that he is personally biased against Rostenkowski.