Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. press release, August 7, 1995

MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Richard Cross August 7, 1995 202-225-3061 EHRLICH INITIA TES POLICE INVESTIGA TION INTO FRAUDULENT TELEGRAMS DELIVERED TO CAPITOL HILL Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. has requested that the U. S. Capitol Police conduct an investigation into the half-million bogus telegrams which flooded congressional offices during last week’s debate on the House telecommunications bill. The Congressman notified the police on the evening of Wednesday, August 2 after his staff spoke with constituents alleged to have sent some of the approximately 2000 telegrams delivered to Ehrlich’s Washington Office. None of the three dozen constituents contacted had, in fact, sent the telegrams. All of the telegrams expressed opposition to the House telecommunications bill, which passed the House by an overwhelming 305-117 margin last Friday. “Some of telegrams I received were signed by teenagers,” Congressman Ehrlich explained. “None of the constituents I contacted authorized that a telegram be sent regarding the telecommunications bill. Most had never even heard of the House telecommunications bill.” Ehrlich noted that these experiences were not unique to his office. “One colleague received a telegram from a deceased constituent and another received a telegram from himself.”