The Swift Hand of the Senate Ethics Committee

In January of 2008, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee against Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.). CREW wondered if a $2 million earmark Landrieu had showered on a children’s literacy company wasn’t inspired by a $30,000 fundraiser the company had held for the senator days earlier.

Twenty-two months later, the ethics panel returned its verdict: nothing wrong with that. “After considering all the information before it, the Committee considers the matter to be resolved and intends no further action,” the panel wrote.

CREW executive director Melanie Sloan issued a statement of her own expressing mock disbelief. “We are shocked, shocked to see Sen. Landrieu absolved of wrongdoing,” Sloan said.

After nearly two years, the only real shock was that the ethics panel had bothered to respond at all.