Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce

DeCROCE STATEMENT ON DEMOCRAT FILING OF RULE 6 APPLICATION WITH REGARD TO OLS SUBPOENAFebruary 15, 2007
Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce/973-984-0922
Assembly Republican Office/609-292-5339

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today issued the following statement in response to a press release by Senate President Richard Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts on their decision to file a “Rule 6� application with the federal courts seeking disclosure of information related to the subpoena now being fought by counsel retained by OLS:

"Once again action has been taken on behalf of the Legislative Services Commission without a meeting of the commission. I would note that this is how we ended up in the our current predicament. The decision by the presiding officers to file this application, appears to be without merit under the rules. Disclosure of grand jury information under Rule 6 appears limited to government personnel assisting in the enforcement of federal law.

"Regardless, this action misses the point. It is the belief of the Republicans on the commission that OLS should comply with the subpoena from the U.S. Attorney. Had OLS complied with the subpoena, there would be no need for this court battle, and therefore no need for any Rule 6 application. The Legislature should not be hindering a criminal investigation. We are not seeking disclosure of grand jury information, we are seeking compliance with federal law enforcement officials. Furthermore, we are attempting to resolve how and when a decision was made by OLS to hire outside counsel without any input from members of the commission.

"These are the important issues that an emergency meeting of the Legislative Services Commission could address without meddling in the grand jury process. As yet the Democrats have refused to schedule that meeting and until they do, these questions cannot be vetted."

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