Posted on 04/21/2006 1:44:52 PM PDT by Ooh-Ah
Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.), under fire from Republicans and watchdog groups over his personal financial dealings, will step aside, at least temporarily, as ranking member of the House ethics committee, according to Democratic insiders.
He'll probably pull a Harry Reid and claim he didn't remember procuring that kind of money, while holding the receipt up to the camera. :)
Jake Stump Daily Mail Staff
Monday April 17, 2006
Members of West Virginia's congressional delegation want the critics to lay off embattled fellow Democrat Rep. Alan Mollohan.
They say Mollohan, who has come under heavy recent scrutiny by the national media for his financial dealings, is entitled to a fair, legitimate investigation before any stones are cast his way.
The Wall Street Journal reported April 7 that Mollohan set up several nonprofit organizations in his northern West Virginia district, channeled $250 million to them, and then accepted campaign contributions from people affiliated with the non-profits.
The conservative National Legal & Policy Center elaborated on Mollohan's financial practices in a voluminous report that has been submitted to federal prosecutors. Last week in an editorial, the liberal New York Times urged Mollohan to step down from the House ethics committee pending an investigation.
However, West Virginia Democrats on Capitol Hill are sticking up for Mollohan.
Sen. Robert C. Byrd said, "Alan Mollohan has accomplished much for the people of the 1st Congressional District. I hope that everyone will avoid rushing to judgment on a situation about which all of the facts are not known."
Mollohan, a Fairmont native, has served the district since 1982, when he succeeded his late father, Robert Mollohan.
Congressman Nick Rahall, who serves the 2nd Congressional District, says his family and Mollohan's family have been close for 50 years.
"I think the world of Alan, his wife, Barbara, and his entire family," Rahall said.
Like Mollohan, Rahall said he believes national Republican leaders have strategically targeted Mollohan in a key election year.
"Some facts are already clear," Rahall said. "Alan Mollohan single-handedly handed the House Republican leadership their collective heads last year over their attack on the ethics rules. Of course he's their No. 1 target this election year. West Virginians can see through this."
Rahall said people should consider who's behind these attacks, particularly the 500-page complaint by the National Legal & Policy Center, which has pushed several causes that are popular with conservatives.
Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller also questions whether there are political motives for the investigation into Mollohan's finances.
"There are mechanisms within Congress to determine whether allegations have merit or whether they are politically motivated," said Rockefeller spokeswoman Wendy Morigi, "and Congressman Mollohan deserves the opportunity to put these charges to rest.
"Sen. Rockefeller also knows Congressman Mollohan to be a man of outstanding character and values," she said.
Mollohan said last week he didn't know how fellow members of the West Virginia delegation would respond to the allegations against him. But he said he'd be flattered if they stood beside him.
Mollohan contends that presidential advisor Karl Rove orchestrated the attacks as an election-year ploy.
He said top Republicans have taken his record of providing economic development and jobs to West Virginia and twisted it into a negative attack.
"It's just innuendo and insinuation," Mollohan said. "They take obvious strengths from their opponents and turn them into weaknesses. That's what they're doing to me."
The lone Republican member of the state delegation, Shelley Moore Capito, had no comment on the Mollohan controversy.
You are absolutely correct and the Reps better make that plain and simple for the Rats.
CHRISTOPHER WAKIM FOR CONGRESS!
http://www.wakimforcongress.com/
I actually heard on the radio news that Pelosi says corruption is NOT bipartisan. That only Republicans are corrupt. It was in reference to this instance.
I noticed when DeLay stepped down from his leadership position the talking heads never reported that the dems have no such requirement.
bttt
"Mollohan, D-WV to Step Down From Ethics Post"
Okay, I haven't read the article yet, but I've already noticed something: democRATs and ethics don't go together.
Who put someone who advocates killing unborn babies, protecting the rights of the "minorities" and criminals by taking away those of the MAJORITY, and forcing teachers to teach early elementary school students about homosexuality, in charge of ETHICS?!
Now that he's resigned from the committee, when are ethics charges going to be brought?
The seat now look's like a possible pick-up in 06. Oh no, this may stop the dems from taking over the House, the MSM won't like that. (Massive Sarcasm Alert)
Why is this not in mainstream news? Or at least Fox news?
Isn't he the heir apparent of Robert Carlyle Byrd? Maybe in 2012?
Of course, that would be the ethics committee. OF whom Mollohan is ranking member, and which the democrats have blocked from performing it's duties for the past year and a half.
So correct! I thought it was only the Repubs that were the "Party of Corruption".
I heard someone last week on Fox say Reid and Pelosi were mad at him because he was "interfering with their message" about the Republican culture of corruption!
I just started laughing when I read the headline!
When the Republicans freely instituted that rule, the dems agreed to establish the same rule within their own party. I guess they forgot.....and continue to forget!
EODGUY
It's Mary McChristmas!!
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