Posted on 9/20/2004, 6:09:37 AM by kattracks
Rep. Christopher Cox, R-Calif., renewed his call on Sunday for Congress to investigate forged records from President Bush's military file that were aired by CBS News last week.
"My recommendation is that we have a staff investigation, not congressional hearings," Cox told CNN's "Late Edition." "I don't want Congress to be seen as yet another attempt to influence this in a partisan way." Cox said Rathergate needed to be probed, much the same way Congress had examined the decision by the major networks to call Florida early for Al Gore in the 2000 election.
"[CBS News chief] Andrew Hayward testified at that hearing," Cox said, "We again have the same interest here in making sure that we have broadcast journalism operating in a way consistent with fair elections."
"If it becomes established these documents are in fact forgeries," the California Republican explained, "then the government interest is rather clear not only in having a fair, national election but also in understanding who it was and how and for what purpose, and so on, government documents and military records were forged."
Cox was initially rebuffed by his House colleagues after issuing his call for a probe on Tuesday. But his comments Sunday suggest he intends to press the issue.
Appearing on the same program, Rep. Charlie Rangel of New York disagreed with the need for a congressional probe, saying instead that Rathergate was a matter for local law enforcement.
"Forgery is a crime and, therefore, local government, not the federal government, should be involved in it," the Harlem Democrat contended. "And if there's any wrongdoing, I think there should be a prosecution."
Asked Friday whether a criminal probe had been launched, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Texas, Richard Roper, who has jurisdiction in the matter, told NewsMax, "We would never confirm or deny an investigation."
Good to see a Republican sounding off like he's got a pair.
Hey...Charlie...involves a FAX....across state lines ...the Feds should be in on this ....never mind the "local law enforcement" ....or were you thinking of the Park Police....?
You got someting to bury in Ft Macy park......?
Isn't forging a federal document and attempting to pass a forged federal document a federal felony?
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