Wednesday, August 29, 2007

CREW challenges Craig on Senate ethics conduct.

Craig forgot to read the Senate Ethics Manual:

E. Improper Conduct Reflecting Upon the Senate and General Principles of Public
Service ...........................................................................................................................


From the CREW:

An article in today's Spokane Spokesman-Review provides one of the best explanations of how the Senate Ethics Committee can become involved in the case against Senator Larry Craig. Improper conduct is the standard the Senate needs to use as Melanie Sloan explains:

The Senate Ethics Manual has prohibitions against unethical and improper conduct “even though such conduct may not necessarily have violated any written law,” CREW President Melanie Sloan wrote to ethics committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer of California and ranking Republican John Cornyn of Texas. But in this case, Craig has already pleaded guilty and been judged to have broken a criminal law in Minnesota.

“As a result, the Select Committee on Ethics should investigate the matter and consider whether Sen. Craig’s conduct violates the Senate rule prohibiting improper conduct which reflects upon the Senate,” she wrote.

Sloan said the Senate has disciplined other members for violating the prohibition against improper conduct that reflects upon the Senate, for such things as converting campaign funds to personal use or improper financial dealings. In 1995, Sen. Bob Packwood, R-Ore., was expelled for repeated sexual misconduct, she noted. (In fact, Packwood resigned under threat of expulsion.)

But the ethics committee could also criticize or admonish Craig in lieu of a more serious punishment, she added.

“At the very least, the committee should issue a public statement criticizing the senator’s conduct,” Sloan wrote.

Here is the Senate Ethics Manual.

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