FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DAG FEBRUARY 2, 1995 (202) 616-2771 TDD (202) 514-1888 MEDIA ADVISORY WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Friday, February 3, Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick will express the Justice Department's strong opposition to legislation, part of the House Republican's "Contract with America," that would cripple the federal government's ability to investigate possible criminal activity. Gorelick will testify before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law in Rayburn 2237 around 11:30 a.m. The topic of the hearing is a "Citizens' Regulatory Bill of Rights" which would require the government to alert the targets of both civil and criminal law enforcement that they are the subject of investigative activity and the scope and purpose of the investigation. Gorelick will testify that such a requirement would render wiretaps, undercover agents, and sting operations practically useless, endanger the lives of cooperating witnesses, informants and agents, and open the gates to widespread witness tampering, destruction of evidence and obstruction of justice. Her testimony will include examples of successful criminal prosecutions that would not have been possible if perpetrators and their counsel had been aware of the investigation from its inception. The provision, Title VIII of H.R. 9, the "Job Creation and Wage Enhancement Act of 1995," will be considered by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law at a hearing scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., although Gorelick is expected to testify around 11:30. Copies of her testimony will be available Friday morning through the Justice Department's Office of Public Affairs. # # # 95-064