Originally published April 22, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified April 22, 2007 at 2:03 AM
Pair of House resignations reignites GOP ethics woes
The resignations last week of two Republican House members from their sensitive committee assignments have thrust lingering legal and ethics...
The Washington Post
Politicians in peril
![]()
![]()
Republicans
Rep. John Doolittle, Calif.: Home raided by FBI in Jack Abramoff scandal.
Rep. Rick Renzi, Ariz.: Wife's business raided by FBI in probe of Renzi-drafted legislation that would have benefited a political benefactor.
Rep. Gary Miller, Calif.: FBI investigating a series of land deals.
Rep. Jerry Lewis, Calif.: FBI investigating his role as House Appropriations chairman.
Rep. Tim Murphy, Pa.: Accused of using taxpayer-funded staff members and resources to do political work.
Rep. Heather Wilson, N.M.: Faces questions about calls to a fired U.S. attorney.
Democrats
Rep. William Jefferson, La.: Aide subpoenaed to testify before grand jury investigating corruption and bribery allegations.
Rep. Alan Mollohan, W.Va.: Under investigation for funneling money to his nonprofits, possibly enriching himself in the process.
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — The resignations last week of two Republican House members from their sensitive committee assignments have thrust lingering legal and ethics issues back into the limelight, potentially complicating GOP efforts to retake Congress next year.
On successive days, Wednesday and Thursday, Reps. John Doolittle, of California, and Rick Renzi, of Arizona, disclosed FBI raids, proclaiming their innocence but exposing their legal jeopardy.
The announcements were the most recent in a series of developments that have kept the focus on old ethical and legal clouds that helped chase the Republican Party from power on Capitol Hill.
Among those developments, Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., faces a possible ethics investigation amid accusations that she pressured now-fired U.S. Attorney David Iglesias to indict New Mexico Democrats before last year's fall elections.
Rep. Gary Miller, R-Calif., under investigation by the FBI for a series of land deals, is facing Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) ads alleging he lied about a land sale that he declined to pay taxes on. Footage shows Miller repeatedly pleading with Monrovia, Calif., officials to buy 165 acres of his property. Miller made more than $10 million off the 2002 sale, but he sheltered the profits from capital-gains taxes by claiming the sale was forced under threat of eminent domain.
Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., faces FBI scrutiny of his work as House Appropriations Committee chairman, and his campaign filings this month showed he has racked up $892,951.69 since July in legal fees.
And for the first time, Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., reported significant legal fees — $15,620.60 — in his campaign filing this month, as he tries to stave off accusations that he used taxpayer-funded congressional staff members and resources to do political work.
Politicians in peril
![]()
![]()
Republicans
Rep. John Doolittle, Calif.: Home raided by FBI in Jack Abramoff scandal.
Rep. Rick Renzi, Ariz.: Wife's business raided by FBI in probe of Renzi-drafted legislation that would have benefited a political benefactor.
Rep. Gary Miller, Calif.: FBI investigating a series of land deals.
Rep. Jerry Lewis, Calif.: FBI investigating his role as House Appropriations chairman.
Rep. Tim Murphy, Pa.: Accused of using taxpayer-funded staff members and resources to do political work.
Rep. Heather Wilson, N.M.: Faces questions about calls to a fired U.S. attorney.
Democrats
Rep. William Jefferson, La.: Aide subpoenaed to testify before grand jury investigating corruption and bribery allegations.
Rep. Alan Mollohan, W.Va.: Under investigation for funneling money to his nonprofits, possibly enriching himself in the process.
The Washington Post
"Everybody's kind of a little bit numb," said Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga. "There's this 'what else can happen now?' feeling going around here."
Doolittle had been trying to retool his battered image when he disclosed that the FBI had raided his family's Northern Virginia home. He and his wife have been tied to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and he has admitted obtaining funds for a defense contractor linked to the bribery conviction of then-Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif.
Under pressure from GOP leaders, Doolittle quickly gave up his coveted seat on the House Appropriations Committee while his lawyers said he had done nothing wrong.
Renzi notified House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, that federal investigators had raided the offices of Renzi's wife's business, Patriot Insurance Agency, in Sonoita, Ariz. The search was part of an investigation into Renzi-drafted land-swap legislation that would have enriched a political benefactor. Renzi stepped down from his seat on the House Intelligence Committee "to avoid any unnecessary distractions on the panel and its critical work," Boehner said.
"I view these actions as the first step in bringing out the truth," Renzi said.
Democrats also have issues. An aide in the New Orleans office of Rep. William Jefferson, of Louisiana, was subpoenaed last week to testify before the grand jury investigating corruption and bribery allegations. Earlier this year, Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va., who chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Commerce and Justice departments, was forced to recuse himself from law-enforcement funding matters because he is under FBI investigation.
Ethics troubles loomed large last year in the Democrats' sweep of Congress. Republicans lost seats in eight states where ethical lapses were key issues.
And Democrats will use the new ethics charges to remind voters why they turned the GOP out, said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., the DCCC chairman.
"It's all a stark reminder to voters about why they don't want to turn power back to a Republican Congress that betrayed the public and used their majority for personal financial gain and to reward special interests," he said.
Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), was less troubled. The Democrats' theme of "a culture of corruption" is unlikely to break through to voters in a presidential election year with so much at stake, he said. And cases coming into focus in early 2007 will likely be resolved by fall 2008.
"There's a long time between now and the election," he said.
But Cole conceded ethics could be a factor in a few individual races. And the GOP already needs 17 seats to recapture the House.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
FBI denounces rumors: Palin not investigated
Biden: Israel free to set own course on Iran
Obama warns of 'difficult' days in Iraq, pledges support for troops
Top Iran clerics decry election, defy supreme leader
NEW - 07:00 PM
Honduran military told to turn back Zelaya's jet

2009 fireworks time lapse
With strict parking rules enforced at this year's July 4th celebration on Wallingford Ave North, less cars and more spectators filled the streets.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
shopping

events for Sunday, Jul. 5th
- IKEA Summer Sale
- REI Summer Sale and Clearance
- Seattle Premium Outlets July 4th Summ...
- Kibbn Storewide Summer Sale
editors' picks
More shopping guides- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Former NFL MVP McNair killed
- Russell Branyan, Mariners fight off the Red Sox
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Palin takes to Web for hints of political future
- Fourth of July festivals and fireworks in Seattle, the suburbs and beyond
- Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- The Blotter | Man pistol-whipped after argument at nightclub
- Palin resigning as Alaska governor
786 - Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox: 07/05 game thread
247 - Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
164 - Hatred for the NBA runs deep, but don't take it out on the players
131 - Tukwila residents rally against light-rail noise
118 - Former NFL MVP McNair killed
112 - Property taxes: Appeals shoot up is King, Snohomish Counties
103 - Tent City on campus: UW stalls decision
95 - Anti-tax rally in Olympia attracts about 1,500
63 - Seeking your questions
49
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Merchant Marine veterans fight for recognition
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Close-up | Prison guards intercept carrier pigeon with a cellphone
- Amtrak cleared for 2nd daily train to Vancouver, B.C.
- Tent City on campus: UW stalls decision
- Pre-grill drill: marinate steaks
- Concert Review | Green Day blasts off 4th weekend with KeyArena show




