www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ethics25sep25,0,6631010.story?coll=la-tot-promo&track=morenews

Group Lists 13 'Most Corrupt' in Congress
Three California lawmakers are named by the ethics watchdog. A spokesman for one senator says the report is 'pure politics.'

By Chuck Neubauer, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON — A watchdog group, naming what it calls "the 13 most corrupt members of Congress," is calling for ethics investigations of some of the most prominent leaders on Capitol Hill in a report to be released Monday.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington says in its report that the 13 members, among them Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), might have violated a variety of congressional ethics rules.

 
The bipartisan list includes three Californians: Reps. Richard W. Pombo (R-Tracy), Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Rancho Santa Fe).

Cunningham is one of two House members whose residences have been searched as part of separate federal criminal investigations. The other, Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.), also is named on the watchdog group's list.

Three of those named on the list — Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) and Reps. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) and Tom Feeney (R-Fla.) — were cited for their dealings with onetime super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is the subject of congressional and federal grand jury investigations. Abramoff was indicted last month on fraud charges relating to a Florida business deal. He has pleaded not guilty.

"They all violated ethics rules," Melanie Sloan, the watchdog group's executive director, said of the 13 members of Congress on its list. She criticized both political parties for what she said was a failure to police ethics.

James Pendleton, a spokesman for Burns, dismissed the group's report as "pure politics." Ney's press secretary, Brian Walsh, said: "We don't give Melanie Sloan and her liberal organization an ounce of credibility."

Its report, titled "Beyond DeLay: The 13 Most Corrupt Members of Congress," is based on news articles and other documents, the watchdog group said. It made the report available to the Los Angeles Times.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington "was compelled to research and release a report on these corrupt members because the ethics committees in both the House and Senate are completely inert," Sloan said. "The report calls for the House and Senate to act to investigate and take appropriate action against them for these violations of the rules."

The watchdog group has been outspoken in criticizing House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) for what Sloan calls his ethical lapses.

"Nonetheless, we recognize that Rep. DeLay is not the only member of Congress whose behavior merits scrutiny," the report says. "There are a significant number of other members who have engaged in similarly egregious conduct, thus the name of the report: 'Beyond DeLay.' "

It says the group's goal is "to galvanize both the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and the Senate Select Committee on Ethics into action. The ethics committees have lain largely dormant over the past years despite the often appalling conduct of their members."

Sloan expressed impatience with both parties. "Democrats are just as much to blame as Republicans for the current ethics deadlock. The Democrats won't file ethics complaints against even the most egregious violators like DeLay and Ney…. The Democrats are spineless," she said.

Sloan said she had been unable to persuade any member of the House to file ethics complaints that the watchdog group has drawn up against Ney and Cunningham. House rules do not permit outside groups to file complaints.

"It is outrageous that outsiders can't file complaints, since Congress has demonstrated its unwillingness to police its own conduct," Sloan said.

In 2004, Sloan helped then-Rep. Chris Bell (D-Texas), a lame duck, file a complaint against fellow-Texan DeLay. The House ethics committee admonished DeLay, but also said Bell had violated a House rule by filing a complaint containing "innuendo, speculative assertions or conclusory statements."

The Senate does permit outside complaints, but Sloan said they were routinely dismissed as "speculative."

Both ethics committees can initiate investigations on their own without a complaint. Such investigations tend to be confidential in the early stages.

A spokesman for the House ethics committee said he could not speak on any matter that may be pending before the committee. Rob Walker, chief counsel for the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, declined to comment.

The 13 members of Congress recommended for investigation by the watchdog group are:


•  Sen. Bill Frist: The report accuses him of violating federal campaign finance laws in how he disclosed a campaign loan. It also calls for an inquiry over his recent sale of stock in HCA Inc., his family's hospital corporation. The sale has raised questions about possible insider dealing. Frist aides confirmed Friday that the SEC was investigating. They have denied claims of campaign finance violations.

•  Rep. Roy Blunt: The report criticizes him for trying to insert provisions into bills that would have benefited, in one case, a client of his lobbyist son and in another case, the employer of his lobbyist girlfriend, now his wife.
 
•  Sen. Conrad Burns: The report says that questions arose over $3 million in appropriations he earmarked for an Indian tribe in Michigan that was a client of lobbyist Abramoff. The senator received substantial campaign contributions from Abramoff and various clients.

"Sen. Burns did nothing wrong, and any accusation to the contrary is pure politics," said James Pendleton, his director of communications. He said Burns had earmarked the appropriation at the request of the Michigan congressional delegation.

•  Rep. Bob Ney: The report says the chairman of the House Administration Committee went on a golf outing to Scotland in 2002, arranged by Abramoff, at a time when the congressman was trying to insert a provision into legislation to benefit one of Abramoff's tribal clients.

Ney reported to the House that the trip was paid for entirely by the National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank, which denied paying any of the costs. Ney has said he had been duped by Abramoff.

•  Rep. Tom Feeney: The report says he incorrectly reported that a golf trip to Scotland with Abramoff in 2003 was paid for by the National Center for Public Policy Research, which denied it. A Feeney aide said the congressman had been misled. Questions also have arisen about two other privately funded trips.

•  Rep. Richard W. Pombo: He paid his wife and brother $357,325 in campaign funds in the last four years, the report says. He also supported the wind-power industry before the Department of Interior without disclosing that his parents received hundreds of thousands of dollars in royalties from wind-power turbines on their ranch.

Brian Kennedy, a spokesman for Pombo, said that "each of the charges is baseless." He called the watchdog group "a Democratic attack group, and all of their charges should be taken with a grain of salt."

•  Rep. Maxine Waters: The report cites a December 2004 Los Angeles Times investigation disclosing how members of the congresswoman's family have made more than $1 million in the last eight years by doing business with companies, candidates and causes that Waters has helped. Before publication of the Times investigation last year, Waters declined to be interviewed, but said of her family members: "They do their business, and I do mine."

•  Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.): The report says he encountered controversy over disclosures that Pennsylvania taxpayers paid for his children's schooling while they lived in Virginia. Santorum maintained he did nothing wrong, and has pulled his children out of the school, according to reports.

•  Reps. Randy "Duke" Cunningham and William J. Jefferson: Both congressional veterans are under federal investigation.

Cunningham, who has announced that he will not run for reelection, faces questions over his dealings with a defense contractor who allegedly overpaid him when he purchased Cunningham's house. Jefferson is under scrutiny for his role in an overseas business deal. Normally the House ethics committee does not hold inquiries while criminal investigations are underway.

•  Rep. Charles H. Taylor (R-N.C.): The report says that questions have been raised about his private business interests, including a savings and loan in Asheville, N.C., and personal business interests in Russia.

•  Rep. Marilyn N. Musgrave (R-Colo.) and Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.): Both second-term House members encountered criticisms tied to campaign activities, the report says.

Musgrave was accused of misusing her congressional office for campaign purposes. Renzi was accused of financing portions of his 2002 campaign with improper loans.

LA Times = ultra far left wing rag = don't waste your time reading it

Anything they put out will be a hit piece against Republicans.

Quoted: LA Times = ultra far left wing rag = don't waste your time reading it Anything they put out will be a hit piece against Republicans.

Brush on your reading skills. They didn't write the report and people from both major parties are included in the list.  

But don't let that stop you from foaming at the mouth over the "leftists".

Quoted: LA Times = ultra far left wing rag = don't waste your time reading it Anything they put out will be a hit piece against Republicans.

BINGO

Bipartisan list my ass 11 Republicans & 2 Democrats.

Sen. Bill Frist: The report accuses him of violating federal campaign finance laws in how he disclosed a campaign loan. It also calls for an inquiry over his recent sale of stock in HCA Inc., his family's hospital corporation. The sale has raised questions about possible insider dealing. Frist aides confirmed Friday that the SEC was investigating. They have denied claims of campaign finance violations.

How can a stock sell from a BLIND trust that Frist has NO control over violate anything where Frist is concerned? If the SEC is investigating it is not Frist. REPEAT the stock is in a BLIND TRUST... Frist has no control he cannot not even know how many shares he owns.

Smear through innuendo… Calls for an inquiry make you guilty of exactly what.

Quoted: Quoted: LA Times = ultra far left wing rag = don't waste your time reading it Anything they put out will be a hit piece against Republicans. Brush on your reading skills. They didn't write the report and people from both major parties are included in the list.   But don't let that stop you from foaming at the mouth over the "leftists".

That lie cannot hide the obvious.

2 Democrats - 11 Republicans

The only foaming at the mouth is from the LA Times and people that carry their lies like you.

Its report, titled "Beyond DeLay: The 13 Most Corrupt Members of Congress," is based on news articles and other documents, the watchdog group said. It made the report available to the Los Angeles Times.

Then it must be true

Quoted: LA Times = ultra far left wing rag = don't waste your time reading it

Would you expect anything less from the newspaper whose nick is "Pravda West?"

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: LA Times = ultra far left wing rag = don't waste your time reading it Anything they put out will be a hit piece against Republicans. Brush on your reading skills. They didn't write the report and people from both major parties are included in the list.   But don't let that stop you from foaming at the mouth over the "leftists". That lie cannot hide the obvious. 2 Democrats - 11 Republicans The only foaming at the mouth is from the LA Times and people that carry their lies like you.

I went to the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington website and I thought I was at the DUmp. I see they threw some token Democrats into that press release but their website is all anti-Republican. There are more articles calling for Karl Rove's and Tom Delay's heads on there than anything else. I think the quote praising Howard Dean and putting down Tom Delay on the home page shows were their loyalties lie.

ETA: The idea of politics and ethics having anything to do with each other is ridiculous anyway regardless of which side your on.

Quoted: Its report, titled "Beyond DeLay: The 13 Most Corrupt Members of Congress," is based on news articles and other documents, the watchdog group said. It made the report available to the Los Angeles Times. Then it must be true

Yep… Smear through innuendo…

"other documents"... want know what that means… it means DNC and MoveOn.org press releases.

This is clearly a hit-piece aimed at Republican leadership… throw in a couple of people that might have actually done something like Duke Cunningham with 2 unimportant fruit-loop Democrats to cover the real intent.

It's alright to run a prostitution ring(Barney Frank) out of your home and office. It’s also alright to invest if you are a democrat… Even obviously HUGE payoffs are alright if they are masked as futures trading. (Hillary Clinton)

What a load of crap.

Pombo is an OK guy.  Notice it doesn't say that disclosure was REQUIRED on the wind-power conflict, and it  doesn't say what he money paid regarding wife & brother was FOR (also it must have been disclosed, or they would have made a big deal about it NOT being disclosed).  

It's typical for the pols on both sides to be hiring people they are close to (or their companies) for campaign services or similar things.

Pombo one of the few guys you can count on in PRK to support 2nd-amendment-enumerated rights.

Absent from the report?  Barabara Boxer's writing fraudulent, NSF checks on her account within Congress, and Feinswine's conflicts regarding husband Richard Blum, their investments in China & her junkets over their, also there are some issues regarding his holdings & her actions

Google terms "richard blum"+"conflict of interest":  415 hits
"dianne feinstein"+"conflict of interest":           14,300 hits
"barbara boxer"+"conflict of interest":              33,900 hits
"rep. george miller"+"conflict of interest":             345 hits

i would have expected to see kennedy and clinton on that list

Quoted: i would have expected to see kennedy and clinton on that list

+1

kennedy for sure
wtf?

Ted Kennedy didn't make the list? Fair and balanced, my pasty white ass. That story has zero credibility.

ETA: Oh, I didn't realize at first that it was written by Pravda West-no wonder

Quoted: ETA: Oh, I didn't realize at first that it was written by Pravda West-no wonder

For some who don't know who/what Pravda was or is, in the old Communist Soviet Union, Isvestia and Pravda were the official newspapers("mouth pieces") of the communist government.

Quoted: Quoted: LA Times = ultra far left wing rag = don't waste your time reading it Anything they put out will be a hit piece against Republicans. Brush on your reading skills. They didn't write the report and people from both major parties are included in the list.   But don't let that stop you from foaming at the mouth over the "leftists".

What good is it to have reading skills is you don't have a clue to go with them?

That report is clearly biased. Perhaps you should educate yourself on the facts of that "report" before criticizing others.

Quoted: Quoted: ETA: Oh, I didn't realize at first that it was written by Pravda West-no wonder For some who don't know who/what Pravda was or is, in the old Communist Soviet Union, Isvestia and Pravda were the official newspapers("mouth pieces") of the communist government.

Pravda means "news"
Izvestia means "truth"

The common phrase of the day was "There's no truth in the news, and no news in the truth"

How can the Hildebeast not be on that list? With 30+ dead bodies...

Quoted: How can the Hildebeast not be on that list? With 30+ dead bodies...

Can we please dispense with the baseless conspiracy
theories and concentrate on how Bush and the CIA
orchastrated 9/11 as a pretext to invade Afghanistan
to enable an oil pipeline and to invade Iraq to help his
oil buddies and Haliburton.

I think an article on the 13 least corrupt members of Congress would be far more interesting.

edited for typo.

I think all of the members of the House and Senate ought to be investigated. I'm sure you would find almost all of them violated somthing.

The problem is finding a non-patisan, non-corrupt investigator.

I'm sorry but if there is a "corrupt list" and that assclown Robert Byrd ain't on it, then the list is SHIT!

Quoted: I'm sorry but if there is a "corrupt list" and that assclown Robert Byrd ain't on it, then the list is SHIT!

Ahh yes, forgot about ole Sheets Byrd. Kind of ironic that the "party of tolerance" would allow a former grand wizard of the Klu Klux Klan to be one of their mouthpieces.

You can't have a list of corrupt congresscritters without a Kennedy. It's in the rulebook somewhere, I think.....


This list sucks.

When I start getting my political news from the LA Times....it will be the Day After Never.

Talk about bullshiite!

Un-fricking-believable!

Eric The(TriedAndTrue)Hun

What happened to Barbara Boxer? I remember she went up in front of Congress blasting the campaign spending of some Republican Senators all the while she was doing the exact same thing. Relatives and family on the payroll, all expenses paids "fact finding" trips, cough...Hawaii...cough, unusual book keeping, friends getting government contracts, etc.

Quoted: Quoted: I'm sorry but if there is a "corrupt list" and that assclown Robert Byrd ain't on it, then the list is SHIT! Ahh yes, forgot about ole Sheets Byrd. Kind of ironic that the "party of tolerance" would allow a former grand wizard of the Klu Klux Klan to be one of their mouthpieces.

After he kicks off it will be interesting to see who shows at the funeral and what they say.