Reps Bring Lawsuit Against Clinton Over Kosovo

Reps Bring Lawsuit Against Clinton Over Kosovo

May 1, 1999

By Justin Torres
CNS Senior Staff Writer

(CNS) – Recent votes limiting the president's power to introduce ground troops in Kosovo, the efforts of a bipartisan group of Congressmen to negotiate an end to the war in the Balkans, and a lawsuit charging the president with violating Congress' war powers are signs of increasing congressional impatience with the Clinton administration's foreign policy.

A staffer for a Democratic member, who asked to not be named, who voted against the air strikes characterized the atmosphere on Capitol Hill as "poisonous."

"Patience has absolutely run out among many lawmakers here. Albright and Clinton simply cannot nail down" a policy on Kosovo, she told CNS.

Evidence of antagonism on Capitol Hill continues to mount today, as a group of two Democrats and 15 Republicans filed suit in federal court against the president, charging him with violating the Constitution by continuing the air strikes in Yugoslavia after the House defeated a resolution supporting the air strikes 213-213 on Thursday.

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), one of the Members bringing the suit, said that the "president has violated the law and . . . must be taken to task."

The suit seeks a judgment from the court that the president has violated the Constitution and the War Powers Act, and requests that the court order the president to cease hostilities and by May 25 and withdraw all troops by June 24.

Jukes Lobel, a professor of constitutional and international law at the University of Pittsburgh, who Dellums v. Bush, the case that forced President Bush to obtain congressional authority for the Gulf War in 1991, agreed with Paul's assessment

"Contrary to the President's statement that he will continue this war, he has no authority to do so," said Lobel. "It would be a remarkable act of executive hubris and illegal as well to continue the bombing. It is a serious subversion of our constitutional structure (and is impeachable). His only option is to end the aerial bombardment and negotiate a peaceful solution."

Meanwhile, Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA), along with Representatives Neil Abercrombie (D-HA) and Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) met over the weekend with top Russian officials in Vienna, Austria, to "explore the terms and conditions that might be the grounds for successful negotiations" to end the war, according to published reports.

The three were joined by Congressmen from both sides of the aisle.

A Republican close to the talks told CNS that members were hoping to "find a way to bring the Russians to the table and end this foreign policy mess."

Thursday, the House defeated two resolution offered by Rep. Tom Campbell (R-CA) that would have required President Bill Clinton to declare war on the Yugoslav Federation, or withdraw all U.S. military personnel from the region, as well as a Democratic bill supporting the air strikes.

The House also passed a resolution requiring the president to seek congressional approval of the introduction of ground troops.

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