DNC: Ethics Committee Republicans should recuse themselves...

[madfloridian]

from the DeLay investigation.

http://www.democrats.org/news/200504280001.html
Apr 28, 2005

DNC Calls on Ethics Committee Republicans to Recuse Themselves From DeLay Investigation
Washington, DC - Four out of five Republicans on the House Ethics Committee have received donations from Tom DeLay's ARMPAC, and all five Republicans have traded favors with DeLay. How can we expect a real investigation of DeLay's ethical violations, if half the committee members—including Chairman Hastings—have received thousands of dollars from DeLay?

"Once again, the Republicans are abusing their power by protecting their own. Every single Republican on the Ethics Committee has financial ties to Tom DeLay," said DNC Communications Director Karen Finney. "If Republicans are serious about restoring credibility to the Ethics Committee, they must recuse themselves from this investigation. This is a disturbing conflict of interest."


Democrat Set the Standard: Sen. Harry Reid Recused Himself from
Ethics Investigation on A Fellow Democra

Reid Recused Himself From Torricelli Hearings. In 2002 Senator Harry Reid, then-Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, recused himself from the investigation of Senator Robert Torricelli's fundraising practices. Reid recused himself after it was revealed that he had contributed $500 to Torricelli’s legal defense fund. After recusing himself, Reid said, he wanted the hearing "to be free of any sort of distraction."

Ethics Committee Chairman Hastings Should Also Recuse Himself in Similar Situation…
Hastings Received Nearly $6,000 in Campaign Cash from DeLay's ARMPAC. Tom DeLay's PAC, Americans for a Republican Majority, has contributed $5,930 to Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA), chair of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

Hastings Owes His Chairmanship to DeLay and Hastert. The previous Ethics Committee Chairman, Rep. Joel Hefley (R-CO), was replaced by Rep. Richard "Doc" Hastings, a trusted ally of House Speaker Dennis Hastert—who can be trusted to view DeLay's behavior in a more charitable light. In an apparent shakedown of the House Ethics Committee, newly appointed chairman Rep. Doc Hastings has fired two senior staff lawyers. Both staff aides were involved in the committee's admonishment of Rep. DeLay.

Melissa Hart Must Also Recuse Herself
Hart Received $15,000 in Campaign Cash from DeLay's ARMPAC. Tom DeLay's PAC, Americans for a Republican Majority, has contributed $15,000 to Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA).

Hart Voted to Protect DeLay in Case DeLay Was Indicted. According to The Hill, "Hart reportedly voted to shield the majority leader in the case of his indictment under the short-lived DeLay Rule."

Tom Cole Should Recuse Himself
Cole Received $15,000 in Campaign Cash from DeLay's ARMPAC. Tom DeLay's PAC, Americans for a Republican Majority, has contributed $15,000 to Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK).

Despite His Membership on the Ethics Committee, Cole Has Contributed $5,000 to DeLay's Legal Defense Fund. Rep. Tom Cole was appointed to the House Ethics Committee by the Republican leadership as part of the ouster of Republican Ethics Committee members who voted to cite Tom DeLay. Cole gave $5,000 to DeLay's legal defense fund.

Judy Biggert Should Recuse Herself

Biggert Received More Than $1,700 in Campaign Cash from DeLay's ARMPAC. Tom DeLay's PAC, Americans for a Republican Majority, has contributed $1,764 to Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL).

DeLay Campaigned for Biggert's Election to the House. DeLay campaigned for Judy Biggert's election in 1998.

Biggert Supported Bill Favored by DeLay and Currently Under Investigation for Ties to DeLay's TRMPAC. Biggert supported controversial bill that gave Bacardi Rum exclusive rights to sell rum in post-Castro Cuba. DeLay, who received $3000 from Bacardi, sponsored the bill, while Hastert opposed it. Bacardi has also been indicted by a Texas grand jury for making illegal contributions to Texans for a Republican Majority, a PAC set-up by Tom DeLay.

Lamar Smith Should Recuse Himself

Smith Co-Hosted TRMPAC Fundraiser with Tom DeLay. Rep. Lamar Smith co-hosted a fundraiser with DeLay for Texan's for a Republican Majority, which is now the subject of a grand jury investigation.

Despite His Membership on the Ethics Committee, Cole Has Contributed $10,000 to DeLay's Legal Defense Fund. Rep. Lamar Smith was appointed to the House Ethics Committee by the Republican leadership as part of the ouster of Republican Ethics Committee members who voted to cite Tom DeLay. Despite his new appointment to the House Ethics Committee, Smith gave $10,000 to DeLay's legal defense fund.

[Pirate Smile]

1. Good move.

[Liberty Belle]

2. Kick!!!

Please call and e-mail these Congressional reps (see www.congress.gov for contact info) and ask them to recuse themselves to avoid a clear conflict of interest.