Under Investigation?

“I welcome the appointment of an independent counsel.”

— Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy, responding last week to an impending investigation into gifts he accepted from the poultry industry he regulates.

“I welcome this investigation.”

— President Clinton, this month, on congressional hearings into the Whitewater affair

“I welcome the opportunity to give Mr. Fiske the facts.”

— George Stephanopoulos, on testifying before Whitewater special counsel (March 1994)

“I welcome this investigation.”

— Representative Joe Kolter, after being subpoenaed, along with Representative Dan Rostenkowski, as part of the investigation into the House post office (May 1994)

“We welcome it.”

— David Byrd, treasurer of Washington Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly’s re-election committee, commenting on a federal investigation into possible fund-raising irregularities (February 1993)

“I would welcome that appointment.”

— President Ronald Reagan, on the possibility of an independent counsel being appointed to look into the Iran-contra scandal (December 1986)