Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE)

The Honor Code (NOT!)

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So, by now you know that in the dead of night (and on a Federal holiday to boot), the Republican Congressfolks tried to eliminate the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE).   (This all happened on 2 January 2017.) The Representatives wanted you to believe that they were not removing the need for or the ability to effect ethics oversight, that they would accomplish the same goals with different means.  But, we all know that’s a load of manure.

A little background.  Congress created the OCE because the Ethics Committee (the one that the new bill would have made preeminent)  has routinely failed to police Congress.  Back in 2008, when Jack Abramoff was found to be spreading money (and influence) all over the floors of the esteemed Congressional buildings.  The OCE could and did report investigations and findings, even if the Ethics Committee would refuse to act. In other words, even if Congress tried to hide the violations, voters would  know.

Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE)

This is akin to the Honor Committees that obtain in Charlottesville (UVA) or used to prevail at MIT, among others.  “On my honor as a gentleman, I promise that I neither received nor gave assistance to another while taking this exam”.  (No, I did NOT make a mistake. UVa was all male until the 70s.) That is the same sort of promise Congressfolks and Senators provide voters with their financial disclosure (sic) forms.  (Trust me- those forms disclose very little.  Kind of like Trump’s disclosure about his wealth and income.  Just like cheating obtained at those institutions of higher learning, even with those honor codes.)

In particular, Bob Goodlatte (a Republican from Central Virginia) claimed that the OCE needed to be removed because it failed to follow due process.  Because it announced when there was an investigation- not when there were findings of facts.  Kind of like how we read in the papers or hear on TV  that ‘John Doe’ is being investigated as a  “person of interest” when a crime has been committed.

(Hmm. Why is that OK, Mr. Goodlatte?  Oh, I know, because you are the target of one and not the other.  Goodlatte, among other issues, has been accused of a conflict of interest, since his wife sits on the Board of the Roanoke Gas Company (and owns stock in same) while there was an interstate pipeline under federal review.  It also can’t hurt that 80% of the funds Goodlatte uses to run for office are not from his district- and more than ½ are from states other the Commonwealth of Virginia. Or that he promised 7 terms ago to resign after serving just 6 [12 years].)

Interestingly, the OCE can’t refer its findings to a law enforcement agency- only to the Ethics Committee.  The OCE also lacks subpoena power.   And, since the Ethics Committee rarely, if ever, acts against US Representatives, there is little prosecution for violations.

Notice further that President Elect Trump only complained about the timing of the act- not the act itself.  Thankfully, that was enough to stop (not permanently, though) the movement in its tracks.  (Watch this space carefully.  One can expect it to reappear- almost magically- right about the April or May recess period. Because we have Congressmen like Aaron Schock,  Michael Grimm, and Duncan Hunter.)

Schock is no longer in Congress.  Nope.  Because he knew he was in a heap of trouble when folks found out he spent $ 40K of campaign funds to decorate his office to match that of Downton Abbey fame.  Or, that an interior decorator provided the services for free. Or, for charter flights, concert tickets, and overseas travel.  So much for his running the Republican Congressional Committee or a run for the governorship of Illinois.  (Hmm. That last position has had so many end up in jail, he may still be a qualified candidate….)

Mr Grimm was a New York Congressman who was heard on audio threatening a reporter.  To ‘f…..g throw” Michael Scotto over the balcony in the US Congress.  Why?  Because the local New York City reporter (Grimm was from Staten Island, one of the five New York City boroughs) asked about his questionable campaign funds and activities.   But, what did him in was tax fraud- failing to report about a $ 1 million in wages and receipts from his business holdings.

And, I’m sure you recall Mr. Hunter is the chair of the Trump House caucus.  Who has just been forced to own up to the fact that he used campaign funds for personal use.  What personal use you might ask?  To fly his kid’s pet bunny on a commercial airplane. (No, you can’t make this crap up.)

Now, don’t think I am picking on Hunter just for this $ 600 expense.  No way.  He just “reimbursed” his campaign some $ 62,000.  (It would have been poetic justice if it were $ 64,000 in questionable expenses.  Because that TV show got cancelled due to ethical considerations, too!)

Did you hear any complaints from these GOP Congressfolks when Jesse Jackson Jr was sent to prison?  Or that forced Bob Andrews to resign?  Of course, not- those were Democratic wrongdoers.

Moreover, Hunter is proving his Trump leanings.  Instead of owning up to paying his dentist, his kids’ tuition, his kids’ private school lunch deliveries, or vacation trips to Sea World, Disney, and Italy- he’s making it clear (sic) that it’s the fault of the San Diego Union-Tribune.  Ah, “Lugenpresse” at work again.   Claiming the reportes are the “most dishonest people in the world”.

No, Mr. Hunter, you’ve earned that moniker all by yourself.  And, no these were not innocent mistakes.  Unless we want to believe that Mr. Madoff just perpetrated innocent mistakes.  Because one slip could be innocent, but $ 62000 from multiple events is neither innocent nor a mistake.  It’s a clear intent to defraud the people who donated money for your campaign- as well as to obfuscate your true nature from folks who entrusted you to hold office.

Maybe now we all can understand the real value of an independent investigative authority dealing with Congressional (non)Ethics.

 

 

Tomorrow another Congressional assault on integrity

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11 thoughts on “The Honor Code (NOT!)”

  1. Very interesting stuff, Roy! I’m not a very political reader, but you make it interesting!

    1. Oh, yes…
      I figured out the swamp was drained decades ago- which is why we have a National Mall and a slew of government buildings. The swamp that remains is in Florida… obviously this may include Mar A Lago, as well.
      Dana Milbank has a wonderful piece in today’s Washington Post (the paper version headline is “Drain the Swamp? GOP just muddies the waters”).

      https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/out-with-the-art-of-being-honest-in-with-trumps-art-of-the-deal/2017/01/18/b4c4b43a-ddcc-11e6-ad42-f3375f271c9c_story.html?utm_term=.7af85aef9a2b

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