Watchdog: Senate Ethics Committee ‘Like a Battered Woman’
Melanie Sloan, executive director of the Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, just responded to the Senate Ethics Committee’s decision to clear
Jul 31, 20206.7K Shares295.1K Views
Melanie Sloan, executive director of the Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, just responded to the Senate Ethics Committee’s decision to clear Sens. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) of any wrongdoing in relation to their preferential treatmentfrom Countrywide Financial Corp.
“„Apparently, clearing the senators was insufficient penance for the committee for having the audacity to investigate in the first place. Like a battered woman who explains she brought the beating on herself, the committee faulted itself for failing to ‘provide more guidance to the Senate community about issues surrounding mortgage negotiations.’ Over a year has passed since CREW filed its complaint and the committee became aware of this issue. Now would be a good time for the committee to start proactively providing its promised advice.
CREW filed a complaint with the ethics panel in June 2008, after Portfolio magazine reportedthat Dodd and Conrad had been given special loan rates as part of Countrywide’s “Friends of Angelo” VIP program.
After reviewing 18,000 documents related to the case, the Ethics Committee wrote in Aug. 7 letters to both lawmakers, the panel found that neither had “knowingly accepted a gift” or abused his position of power to secure the special rates. “The Committee also recognizes that it has not previously offered specific guidance to Senators, officers and employees on the matters they should consider when negotiating mortgages and other financial transactions.”
Hajra Shannon
Reviewer
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