Leading the way on the list of “things that will never happen,” Nancy [tag]Pelosi[/tag] suggested yesterday that House Speaker Dennis [tag]Hastert[/tag] help launch an ethics committee [tag]investigation[/tag] into whether two defense contractors supplied Duke Cunningham and other lawmakers with [tag]prostitutes[/tag].
Citing media reports, Pelosi wrote to Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to urge the House’s top Republican to join her in introducing a bipartisan resolution that directs the ethics panel to look into the allegations, notwithstanding an ongoing criminal probe by the Justice Department into Cunningham’s activities. Traditionally, the ethics committee has avoided becoming involved in any matter in which DOJ has already begun a criminal investigation.
“Mr. Speaker, these disclosures, along with other indictments and allegations of unethical behavior, demand strong action by congressional leaders to uphold the integrity of the House,” Pelosi wrote in her letter to Hastert. “Since these new charges uniquely affect the House of Representatives, I believe that, regardless of what action may be taken in the [Justice Department] criminal investigation, the House must act.”
Pelosi recommended that she and Hastert bring a “bipartisan resolution” to the floor, which would direct the House [tag]Ethics Committee[/tag] to launch an investigation.
Hastert’s office is not fond of the idea, saying that Ethics Committee should not receive orders from the leadership on which controversies spark formal inquiries.
That said, it’s kind of amusing to see Pelosi exploit the latest GOP flap. Republicans have been trying to shake the “culture of corruption” line for a while, but possible [tag]prostitution[/tag] adds a whole new level of embarrassment for the party.