Recent events in Congress have brought an issue to the forefront. Democrats, who claim no moral superiority) have to resign when scandalized, even when their scandals violate neither laws nor congressional ethics. Republicans, on the other hand, who virtually always claim moral superiority, have to resign only when they are about to be expelled, even when their scandals violate both laws and congressional ethics. In other words, why is David Vitter (R-LA) still in office? Diaper Dave is in trouble yet again.
A watchdog group filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee on Tuesday against Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) over allegations that he attempted to “bribe” the Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar.
The complaint, filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), cites a letter that Vitter wrote to Salazar last month. In the letter Vitter said he would continue to oppose increasing Salazar’s paycheck by $19,600 until the secretary issued permits for new exploratory deepwater wells in the Gulf of Mexico.
In a five-page letter to committee Chairwoman Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Vice Chairman Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), CREW’s executive director Melanie Sloan detailed the allegation of Vitter’s “quid pro quo” and recommended that the committee refer matters to the Justice Department if they found the senator guilty of wrongdoing.
“Our country’s criminal laws apply to everyone, including senators,” said Sloan in the letter. “There is no exception to the bribery law allowing a senator to influence a department secretary’s official acts by withholding compensation.”… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <The Hill>
Here are CREW’s complaint and exhibits (PDF)
I’m not sure whether bribery or blackmail is the more apt description of Vitter’s crime, but the quid pro quo is self-evident.
Lawrence O’Donnell covers the story and discusses Vitter’s vote today against jobs for American workers.
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I ask again, why is David Vitter still in office?
These are the members of the Senate Ethics Committee.
Democrats
Barbara Boxer, California, Chairman
Mark L. Pryor, Arkansas
Sherrod Brown, Ohio
Republicans
Johnny Isakson, Georgia, Vice Chairman
Pat Roberts, Kansas
James E. Risch, Idaho
If one is your Senator, call them and ask why.
14 Responses to “Diaper Dave Strikes Again!”
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Wow, this one hasn’t show up on my radar screen. Thanks. What a jackass – and to leave a paper trail, no less.
Pretty thoughtless, huh?
There are a lot of Repubs that you ask yourself why are they still in the Senate or Congress? Vitter broke the law and so did Ensign and they are still there (well, Ensign only resigned when the Senate committee nailed him) but still. Seriously, these people are breaking the law and they are still sitting members? WTF? At least the Dems have the decency to resign. Do we really need criminals as our Reps and Senators? The cops should be in there hauling them away! 🙄 😡 😡 😡
And THEY KILLED ANOTHER JOBS BILL – let’s not all forget about that! Douchebags! 😡 😡 😡 😡
With help from 4 DINOs
It’s do as I say, not as I do.
My father used to say that.
The absolute contempt for the people they were elected to serve just boggles the mind–the blatant blackmail/bribery – whatever it is called is a crime– that this perverted Lout can brag about his acts is just hard to imagine– I feel sorry for the woman , the wife , whose own self -esteem has to be so low as to tolerate Diaper Dave’s betrayal-
The lack of any ethical standards just appalls- they get elected and they seem then to believe anything goes no matter how despicable , Diaper Dave – and the rest of the repiglicans lack any sense of morals or honor–
This is why we cannot rest until the party has gone the way of the Whigs.
I actually felt sorry for that dumb butt’s wife for having to endure that press conference, when he “apologized”. The press seemed to think making fun of her dress was bigger news to report! 👿
I remember her face during that fiasco. I thought, “Deer in the headlights”
Vitter should be thrown out of Congress immediately.
If not sooner!
Yesterday!