GOP don't want Diaper Vitter to testify in Palfrey's case, fearing return of "culture of corruption."

CREW:

Not testifying in the DC Madam trial isn't going to make this issue go away for Senator Vitter. But, Republicans seem determined to keep Senator David Vitter (R-LA) from getting any deeper into this scandal. And, we'll say again, Vitter should be testifying before the Senate Ethics Committee:

Many in the GOP, fearing political consequences, want Vitter to fight the subpoena or refuse to answer questions by invoking Fifth Amendment protection from self-incrimination. Vitter has yet to say whether he will fight the subpoena.

"Sen. Vitter needs to do everything he can to avoid becoming a sound bite, and it would be best if he said nothing," said one senior GOP Senate aide.

Vitter's allies contend the record already shows Vitter had an alleged taste for the high-priced escorts, particularly Paula Neble, so there is nothing he can add that can help Palfrey.

Vitter's colleagues do, however, fear his testimony could resurrect the "culture of corruption" label that brought down several GOP candidates last year. Combined with the bizarre airport men's room arrest of Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), Vitter's testimony could be a political embarrassment for Republicans in next year's elections.

"The culture of corruption never ended. The Republicans continue to be embroiled in scandal," said Naomi Seligman, spokeswoman for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a left-leaning legal watchdog group that successfully pursued scandal-marred candidates in 2006.

http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/30481

GOP are certainly scare of their own skeletons to come out. And not testifying in Ms. Palfrey's case will make him more guilty in the public's eye.