Speech #970145408

Representative Jenrette. could produce him. When faced with such clear statements made by a fellow member of his delegation in Congress. the Department of Justice felt it could not look the other way. Accordingly. it was authorized by law enforcement authorities that Representative Jenrette should ask Senator THURMOND to attend a meeting. after having explained to him that the meeting would involve discussion of the introduction of a private immigration bill in the Senate. However. the actual offer of a bribe to Senator THURMOND was not authorized by the Government at this initial stage. When this meeting did not occurand it is important. this meeting did not occurin accordance with the representations of Representative Jenrette. the matter was dropped as to Senator THURMOND. Senator THUMOND thus was not targeted or pursued by the Government and no attempts were made to entrap or ensnare him in a criminal case. Count 3 of the indictment against Representative Jenrette charged bribery. alleging that he solicited money based on representations that he would cause Senator THURMOND to introduce an immigration bill in the Senate. It was the Governments position in that case that this was done without the knowledge of Senator THURMOND and that Representative Jenrette intended to keep the money for himself. Moreover. the indictment alleged in count 1 that Jenrettes claims about Senator THURMOND were. in fact. false. a position which Congressman Jenrette confirmed on the witness stand at his trial.