House Backs Burton’s Handling of Inquiry
House Republicans stood by besieged Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) Thursday, killing a Democratic resolution that would condemn his handling of the campaign finance inquiry.
The largely party-line 223-196 vote came on a measure charging Burton with abusing his investigative powers and with discrediting the House during his probe of President Clinton’s 1996 election fund-raising.
House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) sponsored the measure.
Gephardt asked the full House to go on record as disapproving of Burton’s handling of the probe, saying Burton had brought discredit on the House through “his failure to abide by the rule of law and his consistent abuse of the investigative powers of the House of Representatives.”
Burton has been a target of fierce Democratic attacks in recent weeks after calling Clinton a “scumbag” and releasing edited transcripts of the prison telephone conversations of former top Justice Department official Webster L. Hubbell that left out passages favorable to Hubbell, Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
House GOP leaders decided Wednesday to shift at least part of the investigation away from Burton’s committee after Democrats protesting Burton’s actions blocked efforts to grant immunity to four witnesses.
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