Congressional Post Office Scandal
Encyclopedia
The Congressional Post Office scandal refers to the discovery of corruption
among various Congressional Post Office employees and members of the United States House of Representatives
, investigated 1991–1995, climaxing in the conviction
of House Ways and Means Committee chairman Dan Rostenkowski
(D-IL
).
Initially an investigation by the United States Capitol Police
into a single embezzlement
charge against a single employee, evidence rapidly led to the inclusion of several other employees, before top Democrats
in the House of Representatives moved to shut down the whole line of inquiry, despite protests from Frank Kerrigan, chief of the Capitol Police.
A new investigation was started by the United States Postal Service
, which eventually submitted a report which was held in silence by Speaker
Thomas Foley
(D-WA) until media reports of embezzlement
and money laundering
leaked out in 1992.
Following public outcry, the Democratic leaders of the House were forced to refer the matter to the Committee on House Administration
, which started its own investigation.
That committee broke into two parts along party lines, the Democrats issuing a report saying the matter was closed, but the Republicans issuing a dissenting report including a number of unanswered questions and problems with the investigation.
The Republican
charges were largely ignored until July 1993, when the Congressional Postmaster
Robert Rota pleaded guilty to three criminal charges, implicating Representatives Dan Rostenkowski
(D-IL) and Joe Kolter
(D-PA
). They were accused of heading a conspiracy
to launder Post Office money through stamps and postal vouchers.
Rostenkowski was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison, in 1995.
U.S. President Bill Clinton
pardoned Rostenkowski
in 2000.
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
among various Congressional Post Office employees and members of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, investigated 1991–1995, climaxing in the conviction
Conviction
In law, a conviction is the verdict that results when a court of law finds a defendant guilty of a crime.The opposite of a conviction is an acquittal . In Scotland and in the Netherlands, there can also be a verdict of "not proven", which counts as an acquittal...
of House Ways and Means Committee chairman Dan Rostenkowski
Dan Rostenkowski
Daniel David "Dan" Rostenkowski was a United States Representative from Illinois, serving from 1959 to 1995. Raised in a blue-collar neighborhood on the Northwest Side of Chicago, Rostenkowski rose to become one of the most powerful legislators in Washington. He was a member of the Democratic Party...
(D-IL
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
).
Initially an investigation by the United States Capitol Police
United States Capitol Police
The United States Capitol Police is a federal police force charged with protecting the United States Congress within the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its territories.-History:...
into a single embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
charge against a single employee, evidence rapidly led to the inclusion of several other employees, before top Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in the House of Representatives moved to shut down the whole line of inquiry, despite protests from Frank Kerrigan, chief of the Capitol Police.
A new investigation was started by the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
, which eventually submitted a report which was held in silence by Speaker
Speaker of the House of Representatives
-National governments:* Speaker of the House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda* Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives* Speaker of the House of Representatives of Belize* Speaker of the House of Representatives...
Thomas Foley
Tom Foley
Thomas Stephen Foley was the 57th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1989 to 1995. He represented Washington's 5th congressional district for 30 years as a Democratic member from 1965 to 1995....
(D-WA) until media reports of embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
and money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
leaked out in 1992.
Following public outcry, the Democratic leaders of the House were forced to refer the matter to the Committee on House Administration
United States House Committee on House Administration
The United States House Committee on House Administration deals with the general administration matters of the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:...
, which started its own investigation.
That committee broke into two parts along party lines, the Democrats issuing a report saying the matter was closed, but the Republicans issuing a dissenting report including a number of unanswered questions and problems with the investigation.
The Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
charges were largely ignored until July 1993, when the Congressional Postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
Robert Rota pleaded guilty to three criminal charges, implicating Representatives Dan Rostenkowski
Dan Rostenkowski
Daniel David "Dan" Rostenkowski was a United States Representative from Illinois, serving from 1959 to 1995. Raised in a blue-collar neighborhood on the Northwest Side of Chicago, Rostenkowski rose to become one of the most powerful legislators in Washington. He was a member of the Democratic Party...
(D-IL) and Joe Kolter
Joseph P. Kolter
Joseph Paul Kolter was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania.Joe Kolter was born in McDonald, Ohio. He graduated from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and served in the United States Army from 1944 to 1947...
(D-PA
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
). They were accused of heading a conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
to launder Post Office money through stamps and postal vouchers.
Rostenkowski was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison, in 1995.
U.S. President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
pardoned Rostenkowski
Bill Clinton pardons controversy
President Bill Clinton was criticized for some of his pardons and acts of executive clemency. While most presidents grant pardons on several days throughout their terms, Clinton chose to make most of them on January 20, 2001. Collectively, the controversy surrounding these actions has sometimes...
in 2000.