PrintSeptember 28, 2010
Perfect move: GOP call for ethics trials of Rangel, Waters
In an extraordinary public statement, all five Republican members of the House ethics committee are calling on Democrats to schedule ethics trials for Reps. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) before the November elections.Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.), ranking member of the committee, was joined by his four Republican colleagues on the bipartisan committee in slamming ethics committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) for not scheduling the trials even as the House prepares to adjourn until after Nov. 2.
Lofgren is in very bad odor right now, thanks to her invitation to comedian Stephen Colbert to testify last Friday, a move that even many Dems thought demeaning to the dignity of the House. This move puts her on the spot. As chair of the House Ethics Committee, she has sole discretion over the scheduling of trials. This puts her, and the Democrats in a no-win situation. If they don't hold a trial, they are helping a cover-up. If they do launch a trial, they make the Democrats look bad in the run-up to the election.
Dems are going to claim this politicizes the Ethics Committee. That is laughable, considering the way Dems harassed Tom Delay and other Republicans via the Ethics Committee.
Hat tip: Ed Lasky
Hat tip: Ed Lasky
