Posted on 05/21/2010 2:06:58 PM PDT by jazusamo
A leading House Republican is threatening to file an ethics complaint against Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) if he doesn’t reveal who in the White House offered him a job to drop out of the Pennsylvania Senate primary.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the top Republican on the Oversight and Government Reform committee, said Sestak needs to explain what job he was offered and who at the White House was involved. Sestak, who beat Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) in the Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday, said on a Philadelphia radio station in February that the White House offered him a job to drop out of the race.
Issa said he or another member of Congress would file a formal complaint to the House ethics committee by July 4 if someone else doesn’t bring the matter to the Office of Congressional Ethics, which handles ethics complaints from outside groups.
“I’ve reviewed the capability and appropriateness,” of filing a complaint, Issa said. “I’m one of many members of Congress considering that it has to be done if he doesn’t come clean.”
If the White House offered Sestak a job to drop out of the race, it could violate federal law that prohibits interfering in elections or promising employment for political activity. Issa predicted that a potential ethics violation could narrowly focus on covering up a felony or bringing dishonor to the House.
It could serve as a distraction over the next few months, as Sestak is locked in a statewide senate race in Pennsylvania against former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).
One lawmaker asking the ethics committee to investigate another is extraordinarily rare – the last time was in 2004 when former Democratic Rep. Chris Bell of Texas filed against former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and former Rep. Dave Hobson (D-Ohio) asked the committee to investigate Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.).
The committee can initiate an investigation on its own, which is more common.
“I’m not sure what the truth is, I’m not sure what his full statement would be,” Issa said of Sestak. “Practically everyone that interviews him comes back with the same thing: he can’t be allowed to make an allegation against the White House and then say enough is said. It doesn’t work that way. Either he’s lying, or covering up felonies for political purposes.”
Issa has also asked Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate. The White House has repeatedly declined to comment on the situation.
If I recall correctly, it is against the law to offer someone a job to induce them to drop out of a political campaign.
I know the law doesn’t matter to good Democrats, however, any alleged violations of law should be investigated, shouldn’t they? Or do we only investigate allegations against Republicans?
bump
Omeegosh.
They use the media to tar and feather the GOP but its headlines if a GOPer threatens to complain.
Good...not that anything will ever come of it.
Yes, you recall correctly and it should be looked at. Sestak admitted the job was offered but now wants to forget it.
Doesn’t look like Issa wants to forget it. :)
If this were George W. Bush in the white house they would have already started impeachment proceedings.
Obama thinks ethics laws are for others, not for them.
I applaud Issa’s efforts but I’m sure he realizes you cannot unstink a turd.
Pass the popcorn.... please...
0 very well may have made the offer.
Here’s hoping he did.
You’re dead on the money. I’m sure Obama considers this a trivial thing because he’s done much worse. Sometimes it’s the little things that trip one up.
I’d ask to have the title amended to include OBAMA WH TRIES TO RIG ELECTION.
Just a little Chicago hustle.
In fact I’m sure that’s exactly how it was.
The Chicago way of politics have always been illegal in every state of the union. Nevertheless, it’s always been practiced with reckless abandon in Chicago.
Are we now going to allow this scourge to be perpetrated throughout DC?
I know a lot of folks will say it already is and has been a big part of politics as usual in DC. But this is in your face, over the top and we need to stand up to these tyrants before it’s too late.
Trust Issa to keep at this like a bulldog.
He won’t back down. He won’t go away.
I’ll bet you money 0’s exact words were ‘give the man a job’.
Correct, and this is only one of his, or one of his thugs, blatant illegal acts since he's been in the White House. When they're confronted about whatever it is they just ignore it and act like it didn't happen.
Trust Issa to keep at this like a bulldog.
He won’t back down. He won’t go away.
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Good for him. Praise The Lord and pass the popcorn.
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