Memo: Hastert decried tying aid, rights

Associated Press

May 03, 2002

WASHINGTON - Before becoming House speaker, Rep. Dennis Hastert told Colombian military officers that he was "sick and tired" of human rights considerations controlling U.S. anti-drug aid, according to a newly declassified government document.

At the time, the Clinton administration was pushing Colombia to improve its human rights performance as a condition of receiving U.S. aid.

Leading a May 1997 congressional delegation to Colombia, Hastert also encouraged Colombian military and police to bypass the White House and deal directly with Congress, according to a cable signed by then-Ambassador Myles Frechette.

John Feehery, Hastert's spokesman, said the speaker strongly supports human rights efforts in Colombia and that the language in the cable likely reflected that Hastert "did not have a particularly strong relationship" with Frechette.

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