The next item on the agenda is the subpoena to the Department of Justice for documents relating to the Holy Saturday raid to seize Elian Gonzalez from his relatives’ home.

The Department has turned over several documents, and has allowed us to review others in the presence of Department personnel. I would note that many of these documents contain redactions. The Department claims that they have no further documents responsive to our request. Given the importance of this issue and the history of the Administration concerning the production of e-mails, campaign finance, and WACO documents, I believe it is prudent to vote for this subpoena.

Let me note that Assistant Attorney General Raben has been forthcoming and cooperative, but we still do not have custody of all responsive documents, and I have to say that the documents provided to date may alleviate some of my concerns about the legality of the raid.

In the end, however, I think it is in the public’s interest; the interest of law enforcement, and our own institutional interest that this Committee go on record as wanting to compel production of these documents.

Further, in light of reports this morning concerning alleged communications and coordination between State Department and Cuban government, I think it prudent to have a separate resolution on the agenda at next week’s meeting to include authorization for a subpoena to the Department of State, “for any documents related to the planning, execution, or coordination of any aspect of the Holy Saturday Raid, including communications with Cuban officials or their representatives.”

Again, let me say that I believe this modification is warranted so as to inform the Congress and the public of any involvement by the State Department and the Cuban government in the raid. If there was no such involvement, let’s establish that. We will all be better served by getting the facts out.