CREW names Fossella as top 24 most corrupt

No surprise here, but an annoying reminder that Fossella is still in office representing this district;

CREW’s Most Corrupt Members of Congress provides a detailed analysis of the unethical and sometimes illegal activities of 24 congressmen and women who have most egregiously betrayed the public’s trust.

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Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, said today, “With soaring gas prices, a housing market in crisis, rising unemployment, and a nation at war, elected officials should be prioritizing their constituents’ needs over their own self-interests. Unfortunately, the members of Congress listed in CREW’s Most Corrupt report have decided that their personal needs are paramount to those they represent. This report holds them accountable for those choices.”

Fossella officially under Ethics investigation

via the Washington Post;

The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct just announced that it has formed an investigative subcommittee to probe Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.), who announced yesterday he would not run for reelection after being charged with drunk driving and revelations of an extramarital affair and a daughter born out of wedlock.

The investigation thus far will only look into the drunk driving arrest and will commence after legal proceedings have occurred, so July at the earliest. This follows on a request by watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington;

Since the Ethics Committee is required to investigate Rep. Fossella’s drunk driving charges, it should take the opportunity to consider whether, by using taxpayer funded travel to pursue his romantic relationship with Lt. Col. Fay, Rep. Fossella violated House travel rules and the prohibition on conduct that does not reflect creditably on the House.

You can read the full CREW complaint here, caution PDF.

CREW humorously addressed the investigation with a nice shot of the House Ethics Committee lack of work ever;

Washington, DC – On May 19th, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sent an ethics complaint against Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY) to the House Ethics Committee, asking for an investigation into whether he violated any House rules. Today, the Ethics Committee voted to establish an investigative subcommittee to conduct an investigation on the DWI charge, but immediately recommended that the subcommittee defer action on its investigation until Fossella’s criminal proceedings are concluded.

Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, said today, “The Ethics Committee deferred an investigation of Vito Fossella? We are shocked, shocked, shocked. The only thing more shocking would be if the committee decided to investigate anything…ever.”

Thanks for letting us kick you around until January Vito!

CREW calls for Fossella's resignation and investigation

The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington does great work trying to rid DC or ethically challenged law makers. They actively go after both corrupt Republicans and Democrats.

Rep. Vito Fossella should resign immediately;

“Given recent disturbing reports about Rep. Vito Fossella’s (R-NY) double life over the past several years, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) urges the Congressman to resign immediately. It is reprehensible that only after Mr. Fossella’s DWI arrest was he forced to admit that he has two families. Aggressive reporting has also revealed that taxpayer dollars helped fund the long-standing affair. By traveling the world with retired Lt. Col. Laura Fay, Mr. Fossella used his position and public money to pursue his illicit affair.

Apparently, former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) was aware of the affair. While in office, Mr. Hastert extolled his party’s devotion to family values. But when did covering up your colleague’s adulterous affair become a family value?

We still may not know the full extent of Mr. Fossella’s wrongdoing. Were campaign contributions or congressional funds diverted to help finance his additional family? While this may be nothing more than a private tragedy, this situation clearly calls for a thorough investigation by federal authorities.”