CREW Asks that Hart Be Removed From Ethics Committee

Citizens For Responsibility And Ethics In Washington (CREW) has issued a press release pointing out the connections between Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA) and the ethically challenged Rep. Tom Delay (R-TX) and has asked for her removal from the Ethics Committee. Not only is she a member of the committee, but this woman, so beholden to Tom Delay is also tabbed to head-up the investigation into DeLay’s ethics violations with Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff and payments to his family with his campaign funds. Below is an excerpt from the press release from CREW. According to Congressional Quarterly Today, Representative Melissa Hart (R-PA) is one of 30 members of the House of Representatives who purchased either an individual ticket or a table to the American Conservative Union dinner on Thursday to defend ethically-challenged Majority Leader Tom Delay. Representative Hart was tapped earlier this year to serve on the House ethics committee, and chosen to head-up the investigation into DeLay’s ethics violations with Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff and payments to his family with his campaign funds. This is not Representative Hart’s only link to DeLay She previously had received $15,000 from DeLay’s political action committee and held a fund-raiser at a restaurant owned by Jack Abramoff. Melanie Sloan, executive Director of CREW said today. “She has again proven that her loyalty to Mr. DeLay trumps any purported claim of objectivity. Her leading this ‘investigation’ into Mr. DeLay only further proves that the ethics committee, in its current form, is a kangaroo court. Representative Hart should be removed from the committee immediately and replaced by a member who is not beholden to Mr. DeLay. This is further evidence that an outside counsel is required to investigate Mr. DeLay’s activities.” Talk about a conflict of interest!!!! Can't the Republicans do ANYTHING without it having a tainted smell to it?