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GOP Moves In for Kill Over Sex Scandal

Pelosi hopes to limit damage

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 15, 2008 1:50 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Collateral damage from a sex scandal linked to Florida congressman Tim Mahoney is spreading rapidly, and Republican leaders are hoping it could effect the presidential election, reports the Washington Post. GOP leaders are now demanding an investigation be broadened to include whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional Democrats knew about Mahoney's alleged payoff to a former mistress who worked for him. Meanwhile, the FBI has opened its own probe, according to ABC News.

Pelosi has called for a House ethics investigation, but there are already signs Mahoney could lose his seat over the scandal. Democrats would "gladly sacrifice" the unpopular Mahoney for the 20-plus seats they hope to pick up Nov. 4, writes Chris Cillizza in the Post. What they don't want just now is for the scandal to become a key topic of the national political dialogue, he notes.

Florida Democrat Tim Mahoney. He allegedly paid $121,000 to a former staffer who had also been his mistress.
Florida Democrat Tim Mahoney. He allegedly paid $121,000 to a former staffer who had also been his mistress.   (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter, File)
Republican congressional committee chairman Tom Cole has called for an ethics probe of Florida Democrat Tim Mahoney to be broadened.
Republican congressional committee chairman Tom Cole has called for an ethics probe of Florida Democrat Tim Mahoney to be broadened.   (Getty Images)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for an House ethics probe of Florida Democrat Tim Mahoney concerning his alleged payoffs to a former mistress.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for an House ethics probe of Florida Democrat Tim Mahoney concerning his alleged payoffs to a former mistress.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for an ethics investigation in Congressman Tim Mahoney's alleged payments to a staffer to dodge a sex harassment suit.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for an ethics investigation in Congressman Tim Mahoney's alleged payments to a staffer to dodge a sex harassment suit.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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Cole calls on Mahoney to answer questions
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