Congress Doesn't Read Our E-Mail
List of Convicted Criminals Serving in Congress
The Washington Times
Source
August 16, 2000
Given reports circulating on the Internet that hundreds of Washington lawmakers have committed crimes, the National Taxpayers Union Foundation set out to learn the truth.
"The truth is less dramatic," says the Washington-based foundation, "but still troubling enough. Although most senators and representatives have steered clear of the law, a number of rotten apples have rolled out of the barrel."
Here then is the list of former members of Congress who were convicted or pleaded guilty to major offenses between 1992 and 1999 (it does not include lawmakers disciplined by Congress' own internal investigations, such as Newt Gingrich or Bob Packwood):
Nick Mavroules, Massachusetts Democrat: tax evasion, accepting illegal gratuity (1992).
Albert Bustamante, Texas Democrat: racketeering (1993).
Carroll Hubbard, Kentucky Democrat: fraud and corruption (1994).
Carl Perkins, Kentucky Democrat: fraud (1994). Charlie Rose, North Carolina Democrat: financial-disclosure irregularities (1994).
Larry Smith, Florida Democrat: tax evasion (1994).
Dave Durenberger, Minnesota Republican: financial-disclosure misdemeanor (1995).
Walter Fauntroy, District of Columbia Democrat: financial-disclosure misdemeanor (1995).
Gerald Kleczka, Wisconsin Democrat: arrested for DWI (1995 and 1990); convicted DWI (1987).
Mel Reynolds, Illinois Democrat: sexual misconduct (1995).
Walter Tucker, California Democrat: extortion (1995).
Charles Wilson, Texas Democrat: paid $90,000 fine to Federal Election Commission (1995).
Joe Kolter, Pennsylvania Democrat: fraud and conspiracy (1996).
Dan Rostenkowski, Illinois Democrat: mail fraud (1996).
Wes Cooley, Oregon Republican: lying about war record (1997).
Jay Kim, California Republican: campaign-finance violations (1998).
Mary Rose Oakar, Ohio Democrat: financial-disclosure irregularities (1998).
Austin J. Murphy, Pennsylvania Democrat: vote fraud (1999).
Mark Twain once observed that Congress was America's "only native criminal class," the foundation recalls.