After 10 years, guilty plea, and presidential pardon Independent Counsel still spending millions

U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan's effort to end funding for an apparently never-ending Independent Counsel's investigation that has so far cost taxpayers more than $21 million has been approved by the U.S. Senate. The Independent Counsel was appointed ten years ago, but has failed to file a report and continues to spend millions of dollars, despite the fact that the subject long ago resigned from office, pled guilty to a misdemeanor, paid a $10,000 fine, and received a presidential pardon.

Still, Independent Counsel David Barrett continues on. Dorgan noted. If the Independent Counsel doesn't know when to pull the plug on this, then the Congress needs to do it for him. There is no reason to continue spending millions of tax dollars on this. Dorgan said.

More than half of the $21 million total cost of the investigation -- $10.6 million was rung up after the subject former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros resigned from office and pled guilty. During that time period, no further charges have been filed. In the last six months examined by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), ending September 30, 2004, the investigation tallied more than $1.2 million in new expenses.

This is just an unbelievable waste of money, Dorgan said. For this to be going on, for the meter to still be running for taxpayers on this investigation ten years later, and six years after he pled guilty and paid a fine, and four years after he was pardoned is beyond belief. Dorgan's amendment, which was adopted during Senate consideration of the Supplemental Appropriations bill, cuts off further funding for the investigation on June 1, and requires the GAO to provide Congress with a detailed accounting of the Independent Counsel's expenditures. The bill, with Dorgan's amendment, was approved Thursday by the Senate.

SOURCE: Press Release from U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D. North Carolina)

DOGSPOT