Sorry, I just don't understand this. How do you pass a background check for clearance to serve on the intelligence committee after being found guilty of taking bribes?
When you're an elected member of Congress, there really aren't the same requirements. How do nutcases like Billary Clinton get into the Whitehouse? And then GIVE US Military Technology to China in exchange for campaign cash. And GIVE US Nuclear technology to Iran...
There are no background checks for members of Congress. The Democrats could put Chuckles the Clown on as Chairman if they wanted to.
What makes you think there is such a background check, or that if there is, it's binding on the House Democratic Committee on Committees when they are in the majority? Hint: They put Red Ron Dellums on the House Armed Services Committee in '73, leading to him becoming the Chairman in '93 by virtue of seniority.
In '83, upon being read into certain security compartments, I was told that if Red Ron should come into our SCIF and ask to see something or ask a question, we had to show it to him or answer the question. But we were told be sure that he only got what he asked for, very specifically asked for at that. And that was before he became chair of the HASC.
The man was a communist, and about as big a security risk as you can imagine, but he was a Congressman.
I wonder what a perusal of the old KGB records would turn up on him, and his handpicked successor Barbara Lee... that's Congresswoman Barbara Lee, she's still there, and was the only Congressman to vote against the resolution authorizing President Bush to "use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons. And she's proud of it too, I copied and pasted that from her Congressional website.
Lee currently represents California's 9th district which is Berkley, Alameda, and surrounding area. Incidentally Dellums refused to oppose the closing of the Naval base in his own district. (this was pre-BRAC when such opposition was pretty much routine and expected if one wanted to get reelected. He got reelected anyway)