Jane Harman to resign from Congress

[cali]

By Chris Cillizza

Updated 11:33 a.m.

California Rep. Jane Harman (D) will resign from Congress, according to two senior Democratic leadership aides, a surprise announcement that will set off a special election in her 36th district.

NBC's Andrea Mitchell, who broke the news of Harman's resignation, has reported that the California Congresswoman will take over as director of the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. That job is currently held by former Indiana Rep. Lee Hamilton (D).

Harman, 65 , has held the southern California 36th district since 2000 when she upended then Rep. Steve Kuykendall (R). She also ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1998, losing a primary to then Lt. Gov. Gray Davis. Her husband, Sidney, is the owner of Newsweek magazine.

Harman's exit was a surprise to many Democrats who reported first hearing off it on the MSNBC airwaves. She did, however, let House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) know of her planned resignation before it went public, according to an informed source.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/house/jane-harman-to-resign-from-con.html?wpisrc=nl_polalert

[PassingFair]

1. Yipee! I hope Marcy Winograd can hold the seat....but good riddance to

DLC rubbish!

[calimary]

2. Marcy!!! Marcy!!! Marcy!!!

Somebody who isn't a warmonger for the South Bay!

[sufrommich]

3. I wonder what is behind the quick resignation? These seem

to followed by scandal in most cases.

[JuniperLea]

5. Rarely is it scandal when...

They leave to take on another project in DC.

[SoCalDem]

7. How mean of her to waste all the donor money to win in Nov & quit in Feb

will the seat remain empty until the next election cycle? I don;t know what the rules are for my own state :spank:.. senators get replaced ASAP, but in some states an empty house seat remains empty until the next election:(

[kenny blankenship]

9. Under investigation in 2005-6 for talking to Israeli espionage agent

She was caught on a NSA wiretap promising a quid pro quo lobbying arrangement to an Israeli spy. She would lobby Justice for reduced charges for two AIPAC operatives arrested for espionage, and in return AIPAC would lobby Nancy Pelosi to make Harmon Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee when/if the Democrats retook the House of Representatives. At the end of the taped conversation, transcripts show that Harmon signed off with, "this conversation does not exist."

In Spring 2009, we learned that AG Alberto Gonzales dropped the case against Harmon and intervened to close an ongoing CIA investigation of her as well, in exchange for yet another quid pro quo: her continued championing of -get this- the Bush Administration's program of warrantless wiretaps! That's the kind of vote you can definitely count on - someone who's going to jail if they cross you and don't vote the way you tell them. She even intervened personally with NYTimes reporter Eric Lichtblau to get him to hold his story on Bush warrantless wiretapping until AFTER the 2004 elections. You remember- that election in which we tried to unseat Bushler with Democrat John Kerry? In the middle of a campaign in which John Kerry's decorations as a combat veteran of Vietnam came under the sleaziest attack imaginable, Jane Harmon knew the details of Bush's wholesale violation of the US Constitution and his oath of office - yet helped Bush and Rove keep the people in the dark.

She betrayed everyone but AIPAC.

[SoCalDem]

4. Poor baby.. It's no fun being back in the minority

Here's hoping a more liberal person takes her place.. Buhbyee Janie

[Cleita]

6. So sorry to see her go.

*crying crocodile tears here* :cry:

:sarcasm:

[ellenfl]

8. that's the sticker! i've been looking 4 a sticker 4 my car. where can i buy 1? eom

[FLAprogressive]

10. She's probably *officially* going to work for AIPAC now....

[marybee]

11. a purge worth having

na