JUDICIAL WATCH DEMANDS REPUBLICANS AND WHITE HOUSE CEASE AND DESIST FROM ILLEGAL, DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES
Scheme to Exclude Non-Contributors, Democrats And Third Parties From the Political Process
Republicans Have Until Noon, Wednesday, June 12, 2002 To Confirm Cessation Or Strong Legal Action Will Result
(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and abuse, said today that it condemns the compilation of political dossiers by Republican Party activist Grover Norquist, and others, in order to develop a list that will effectively control access to the White House, Congress and federal agencies based on campaign contributions and other favors. Today’s Washington Post article by Jim VandeHei, entitled “GOP Monitoring Lobbyists’ Politics White House: Hill Access May Be Affected,” details the workings of a scheme dubbed the “K Street Project.” The political dossiers developed under the Republican project reportedly list the party affiliations and campaign contributions of lobbyists in Washington.
Mr. VandeHei’s article reports that: “Republicans involved in the effort said they plan for it to be used by White House officials, lawmakers and staff to determine who can meet with party leaders in discussions of policy matters. The idea is to alert GOP officials and staff members to Republicans who ‘deserve’ such access and to Democrats who don't, said one lobbyist involved.” Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (Va.), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and Senate Republican Conference Chairman Rick Santorum (Pa.) are both reportedly aware, at a minimum, of the development of the political dossiers and access list.
Judicial Watch demands that the leadership of the Republican Party direct the immediate and total cessation of the so-called “K Street Project,” by Grover Norquist, and other Republican political operatives. Judicial Watch condemns the creation of political dossiers and the development of access lists by any political party. The Republican Party is now publicly “on notice” to confirm its cessation of the K Street Project by noon, on Wednesday, June 12, 2002, or Judicial Watch will take legal action against those parties that are engaging in illegal, discriminatory practices that seek to deny all Americans equal access to their government.
“The development of political dossiers and access/”black” lists is both sinister and crass for a political party that claims to want a ‘big tent’ and promotes conservative values,” stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman. “This is the sort of reprehensible and illegal behavior that got Tom DeLay admonished by the Ethics Committee back in 1998. Some people never learn.” Klayman added.
The Washington Post story can be found on the Internet at www.JudicialWatch.org
Click Here to view the letter from Judicial Watch to Grover Norquist, Carl Rove and others.
