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Condit Security Appointment 'a Joke!'
Sunday, Sept. 30, 2001 10:49 p.m. EDT
Rep. Bob Barr: Condit Security Appointment 'a Joke'
When he heard the news that scandal-scarred congressman Gary Condit had been picked to serve on the House Subcommittee on Homeland Security and Terrorism, Rep. Bob Barr couldn't believe his ears.
"This is somebody's idea of a bad joke," he told NewsMax.com exclusively, while attending a convention Sunday of National Rifle Association supporters in Melville, N.Y.
"As a matter of fact, about a week or so ago when this was announced, ... I actually thought it was a joke," the Georgia Republican added.
Barr was the first member of Congress to call for a House Ethics Committee investigation into Condit after charges surfaced that he tried to obstruct the investigation into the disappearance of his mistress Chandra Levy.
In August, House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt threatened to bounce Condit from his seat on the House Intelligence Committee after national security experts fingered him as a blackmail risk.
But not only hasn't that happened, a day after terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers and Pentagon prompted President Bush to announce the creation of the Office of Homeland Security, Gephardt quietly sanctioned Condit's appointment to the companion House committee.
Once Rep. Barr realized that Condit's new assignment was no prank, he was concerned the move showed a blatant disregard for national security concerns at a time when they should be paramount.
"It's a shame that this was done," he said. "It's thumbing your nose at all of those things that we ought to be doing."
Barr said he has yet to hear from the House Ethics Committee about his complaint against Condit.
"Given the amount of time that's gone by, I sort of doubt that I'll hear anything. They just don't seem to be interested," he told NewsMax.com.
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