Sarbanes Statement on G.O.P. Reversal of Attempt to Terminate Independent Oversight of House Ethics

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) released the following statement after House Republicans backed down from their attempt to dismantle the independent Office of Congressional Ethics:

“Thanks to public outrage and committed activism, House Republicans abandoned their scheme to gut the only independent organization in the House of Representatives that can hold Members of Congress accountable to ethics rules.

“Some are suggesting that House Republicans reversed course in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s tweets. But the President-elect was never opposed to House Republicans’ idea to eliminate the Ethics Office. He just didn’t like the optics and timing of the effort. The outcry from ordinary citizens – not the President-elect – ultimately persuaded the House G.O.P. to reverse course. In the coming years, we must be ready to defend our democratic principles and progressive beliefs against an overreaching Republican Congress and Trump Administration.”

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