Common Cause and Eight Other Watchdog Groups Urge House Ethics Committee To Launch Investigations of Rep. DeLay and Six Other House Members

Common Cause and Eight Other Watchdog Groups Urge House Ethics Committee To Launch Investigations of Rep. DeLay and Six Other House Members

In a letter to House Ethics Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) and Ranking Member Alan Mollahan (D-WV), the Congressional Ethics Coalition today urged the Ethics Committee to “begin thorough investigations of the multiple allegations of ethical improprieties” by both Democratic and Republic House members.

The Congressional Ethics Coalition is a coalition of ideologically diverse government watchdog groups including Common Cause, Judicial Watch, the Campaign Legal Center, the Center for Responsive Politics, CREW, Democracy 21, Public Action Campaign Fund, Public Citizen and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG).

The letter specifically asked the Ethics Committee to launch inquiries into the possible ethical misconduct of Reps. Bob Ney (R-OH), John Conyers (D-MI), Curt Weldon (R-PA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA), and William Jefferson (D-LA). The investigation of Rep. DeLay should focus on his relationship to Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the letter noted.

“For months, the House Ethics Committee has been paralyzed by partisan squabbling over rules and staffing,” said Common Cause President Chellie Pingree. “At a time when public confidence in the Congress is disturbingly low and multiple ethical scandals have questioned the integrity of several Congressional members, it is imperative that the Committee conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations and take decisive action where appropriate.”

Click here to read the coalition letter to House Ethics Committee