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“ Democratic priorities are clear: we will fight to get the economy back on track, we will create jobs, and we will help unemployed workers. ” |
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Pelosi Urges Ethics Investigation into New Issues Raised in Cunningham Case
Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi sent the following letter to Speaker Hastert today requesting that the Ethics Committee look into new issues raised in the case involving former Congressman Randy Duke Cunningham.
The text of the letter follows:
May 1, 2006
The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker
H-232 The Capitol
Dear Mr. Speaker:
I am writing to request that you join me in introducing a bipartisan resolution to direct an investigation by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct into new issues raised in the case involving former Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham.
Mr. Cunningham has pleaded guilty to criminal charges of tax evasion and conspiracy and admitted accepting more than $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors. As a result, he was sentenced to more than 8 years in prison for engaging in “unparalleled corruption,” in the words of the government’s sentencing memorandum.
However, the issue may be even more serious than it originally appeared. Mr. Cunningham may not have been alone in this corrupt behavior. The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have recently reported that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating allegations that Mr. Cunningham and other Members of the House of Representatives were provided with prostitutes and the free use of a limousine and hotel suites by two of the contractors implicated in the bribery charges.
Mr. Speaker, these disclosures, along with other indictments and allegations of unethical behavior, demand strong action by congressional leaders to uphold the integrity of the House. Since these new charges uniquely affect the House of Representatives, I believe that, regardless of what action may be taken in the criminal investigation, the House must act.
Please join me in drafting and bringing to the floor this week a bipartisan resolution directing the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to determine whether other Members of the House participated in unethical or illegal conduct related to the Cunningham conviction.
This is not the first time I have sought such bipartisan leadership action in the Cunningham case. On November 30, I asked that you join with me in introducing a resolution to create a Select Committee to investigate the national security implications of Mr. Cunningham’s conduct because of his access to extremely sensitive national security information. Although I never received a reply to that request, the current reports are so serious that I am hopeful you will agree to take this bipartisan action without delay.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
NANCY PELOSI
Democratic Leader
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“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
