Ranking Democrat on Ethics Committee steps aside amid allegations

RAW STORY
Published: Friday April 21, 2006

The ranking Democrat on the House Ethics Committee, Alan Mollohan, has temporarily stepped aside from the Committee after allegations of impropriety.

Mollohan has allegedly failed to report much of his earnings, while steering over $200 million in government money to groups linked to a business partner, as well as non-profits linked to himself.

His letter to Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) follows, followed by Pelosi's response.

#

April 21, 2006
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
U.S. Capitol, Room H204
Washington , D.C. 20515

Dear Leader Pelosi:

As you are aware, over the past two weeks I have been subjected to a concerted, politically motivated attack on my ethics that has been fomented by an ultra-conservative organization in Washington. During this time I have been acutely aware of how this attack, and the need for me to respond to it fully, may impact my service as the Ranking Minority Member of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. After giving the matter careful consideration, I have reluctantly concluded that the interests of both the Committee and my constituents would best be served by my temporarily stepping aside as Ranking Member while I deal with this attack.

In this regard, it has become clear that the unprecedented campaign that has been launched against me will continue to be at least as relentless as it has been to date. While I am confident that any charges or allegations that this organization and its Republican allies make against me will be as meritless and, indeed, as frivolous as those they have made thus far, they must be responded to fully. This will require my time and attention, and at the same time I must continue to fulfill my overriding duty to serve my constituents in the 1 st District of West Virginia, as well as undertake my re-election.

Furthermore, I do not want these baseless allegations to divert attention from the important work that the House Ethics Committee must undertake in the remainder of this Congress, or to serve as an excuse for committee inaction. As you are fully aware, earlier in this Congress I was successful in reversing the rules changes sponsored by the House Republican leadership that would have seriously undermined the Committee's ability to do its job, and I was also successful in ensuring that the Committee would continue to be served by a non-partisan professional staff. Ironically, it was those efforts of mine that are the immediate cause of the ethics attack to which I am now being subjected.

As difficult as it has been for me to reach this decision, I believe that the reasons I have set out for this decision will be fully understood and accepted by fair-minded people.

Most sincerely,

/s/

Alan B. Mollohan

#

Pelosi Statement on Mollohan Decision to Temporarily Step Aside from Ethics Committee

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on Congressman Alan Mollohan's decision to temporarily step aside as ranking member of the Ethics Committee. Mollohan's letter follows Pelosi's statement:

"Today I have accepted, at his request, the decision of Congressman Alan Mollohan to step aside temporarily as the ranking member of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Congressman Howard Berman, who previously served as the senior member of the Ethics Committee, has agreed to accept my appointment to return temporarily as ranking member.

"Congressman Mollohan has served his constituents of the 1st district of West Virginia with great distinction for nearly 24 years, and I am confident he will continue to do so. He has also provided steadfast leadership to the Ethics Committee during a period of Republican interference and inaction. I have the highest regard for Mr. Mollohan's service to the Congress, to his constituents, and to the Ethics Committee, and I look forward to his return to the committee.

"The allegations against Congressman Mollohan originate from the National Legal and Policy Center, which engages in highly partisan attacks on Democrats. These attacks are an attempt to deflect attention from the long list of Republican criminal investigations, indictments, plea agreements¸ and resignations that have resulted from the reported long-term and extensive criminal enterprise run out of House Republican leadership offices. The Republican culture of corruption has been ignored by the Ethics Committee for a year and a half following the decision of the Republican leadership to fire their own chairman and some Committee members for doing their job.

"Despite the source of these accusations, Mr. Mollohan today has made an honorable decision to step aside so that he can address the charges, and I commend him for his leadership.

"Congressman Berman has an excellent understanding of the Committee's responsibilities and is highly regarded for his non-partisan and judicious leadership. As his record on the Committee demonstrates, Mr. Berman is fully committed to an effective Ethics Committee that holds all Members of Congress to the highest ethical standards."