Republican-led Ethics Committee gives partisan ruling on Foley

Gee, what a surprise!  The Republican-led House Ethics Committee finished its investigation into the Mark Foley sex scandal, and concluded that nothing was unethical about the way the Republican leadership handled it:

The panel voted to endorse an 89-page report recommending “no furtherinvestigative or disciplinary proceedings,” against anyone inconnection with the scandal, which is believed by many to havecontributed to heavy Republican losses in the November election.

It comes despite the fact that this same committee even admitted that a Republican House clerk had been addressing the Foley issue since 1995:

The committee concluded that House Clerk Jeff Trandahl"repeatedly tried to address Rep. Foley's conduct," beginning with his1995 election to the House, and "directly confronted Foley on thematter approximately ten times at various places for various reasons."

Dennis Hastert, the leader of the Republican majority, was found innocent by a Republican majority in the committee.  How would we have expected any other ruling but this?  This is where power can be such an asset.

Comments

[Tony]

No matter what party you are with, this is disgusting.

[Tim]

The fact that they didn't break any rules doesn't mean they didn't break a law. If you suspect someone is abusing children or preying on them don't you have to turn them in or you can be held liable? I thought there was a law like that. Good post.