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.
Hey, as the president said, “We Won.”
Democrats can do no wrong.
There’s nothing to see here, so move on. NOW!!!
IMHO
Get Issa some protection for his back.
This whole matter just makes it easier for Sestak to run AGAINST Obama in Nov., like the RAT in Pa-12 did to win. Give voters in Pa. any reason to vote Dem and they will. If Sestak can present himself as an enemy of Obama, he will win. Issa is just helping the Dems at this point. And for what? If they find out Emanuel made the offer, worst case, Emanuel resigns. That’s all this is good for. We are willing to trade a Senate seat for next to nothing—??
This whole matter just makes it easier for Sestak to run AGAINST Obama in Nov., like the RAT in Pa-12 did to win. Give voters in Pa. any reason to vote Dem and they will. If Sestak can present himself as an enemy of Obama, he will win. Issa is just helping the Dems at this point. And for what? If they find out Emanuel made the offer, worst case, Emanuel resigns. That’s all this is good for. We are willing to trade a Senate seat for next to nothing—??
Depending on who made the offer, we might get an impeachment out of the deal. At the very least we can Watergate every rat involved all the way through November.
Depending on who made the offer, we might get an impeachment out of the deal. At the very least we can Watergate every rat involved all the way through November.
I should probably have said Rathergate.
Although your point is taken. This has to be very carefully managed.
From the wayback machine (thanks Madame DuFarge for pointing it out!):
Clinton alumni giving to Sestak (Weldon, Able Danger)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1618849/posts
from ‘06.
like I have said all along, kick all of them out and give a new bunch a chance
.
I should probably have said Rathergate.
Although your point is taken. This has to be very carefully managed.
Butter or cheddar?
Have 1/2 keg of beer at the ready....interesting times we live in..
I agree...he’s been making these threats for months now. It’s way past time for him to do his job and file a complaint. Didn’t he have a deadline in place a month or so ago? What happened to that? Time to put up or shut up!
Issa has been a warrior on many fronts lately.
obama can’t be impeached as he is not legally the president(article 2) his election can only be voided. But you’re right if Bush was in office he would have already been thrown out by now.
I’ want an investigation into how the white house has their cronies in the media do their dirty work, SEIU, the DC police, public school busses and ACORN
the media hides the facts.
SEIU does the street dirty work
the cops in DC stands by to not have any SEIU get done or hurt.
school busses are allowed at a cost to taxpayers
feds now saying no illegals will be deported as the white house needs them for 2012
An investigation should be done and those including bozo should be done over this and so should those in the corrupt media
The Democrats were hell-bent to discover some illegality with regard to Newt Gingrich, all they were able to uncover over months of special prosecutor ethics investigation was the improper use of an 800-number on the Floor during his Special Orders speeches to the American public and the co-mingling of office staff, someone stepped over the bounds of public/private matters use. That cost Gingrich not just dough but all manner of public support and was no crime whatever.
Here, a violation of federal law, not just by Sestak but by 0bama, his minions, for making the offer with the ability to make good on it -- according to Judge Napolitano, that is the bar, the level to be reached -- you watch, Issa is going to be lambasted, not just by Dems but by the lamestream just for seeking the inquiry. These people are predictable and so pathetic.
Not much doubt that the Dems and the enemedia will come down on Issa for making the inquiry. Fortunately Issa is not the kind of guy that will bother, he’ll follow through on this and I believe this will be a big deal.
Sestak links himself by refusing to Rat on the DemocRats.
That is our story, and we should stick to it.
"enemedia" -- I love that!
I watched that squirm fest. I thought for a minute there that I saw a pair of ruby slippers clicking away under Holder's desk......there's no place like jail...there's no place like jail.
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