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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Senate Ethics Committee

Senate Ethics Committee stories: 14 news summaries
BLAGO FALLOUT


 Ethics Panel 
 Slaps Burris 
 on the Wrist 

'Letter of admonition' cites fibs surrounding Blagojevich

Nov 20, 09 11:47 AM CST
(Newser) - The Senate Ethics Committee today issued a “public letter of qualified admonition,” its gentlest censure, to Roland Burris. The Illinois Democrat had been required to come clean about his dealings with then-governor Rod Blagojevich before his appointment to replace Barack Obama, which he did—before amending his testimony.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Senate Ethics Committee • false statements • Rod Blagojevich • political scandal • Roland Burris • political appointment • Senate seat • rebuke • admonish

(Newser) - Chris Dodd and Kent Conrad have been cleared of wrongdoing in taking preferred loans from Countrywide Financial, the Hill reports. But the Senate ethics panel gave both Democrats slaps on the wrist. No “credible evidence” of ethics violations emerged, the committee said in a statement, but two “... More »

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Congress • Chris Dodd • home loans • Countrywide Financial • Senate Ethics Committee • Angelo Mozilo • VIPs • Kent Conrad

(Newser) - Democratic Sens. Chris Dodd and Kent Conrad were fully aware they were getting sweetened mortgage deals, the Countrywide Financial exec who handled their loans has told congressional investigators. The testimony from the loan officer to the House Oversight and Senate Ethics committees directly contradicts the senators' assertions that they had... More »

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Chris Dodd • Countrywide Financial • mortgage loans • Senate Ethics Committee • political scandal • Kent Conrad • Robert Feinberg

ANALYSIS

Ensign Facing
an Ethical Hot Potato, but no Legal Case (Yet)

Ex-lover would have
to make accusation

Jul 15, 09 10:13 AM CDT
(Newser) - The husband of John Ensign’s ex-mistress has accused the Republican senator of sexual harassment and wrongful termination—but there can be no legal case unless Cindy Hampton herself accuses Ensign of unwanted advances or creating a hostile work environment, experts tell Politico. Thus far, she’s the only one... More »

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investigation • sexual harassment • Senate Republicans • John Ensign • Senate Ethics Committee • wrongful termination • scandal • Cindy Hampton • Doug Hampton

Feds Grill Burris
in Blago Probe

Calls for senator to step down gain strength

Feb 22, 09 4:49 AM CST
(Newser) - Federal authorities interviewed Illinois Sen. Roland Burris yesterday as part of the investigation into whether former Gov. Rod Blagojevich tried to sell President Obama's Senate seat, reports the Chicago Tribune. Burris is not a specific target in the Blago case, sources said, but he is being investigated for perjury by... More »

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Richard Daley • corruption • perjury • Illinois • Senate Ethics Committee • governor • Rod Blagojevich • political scandal • Roland Burris

Unless He Resigns, Senate Likely Stuck With Burris

The embattled Senator, though lacking support, pledges to dig in and fight

Feb 19, 09 8:57 AM CST
(Newser) - Whatever problems Roland Burris had being seated in the Senate, they pale in comparison to the problems the Senate will have getting rid of him, the Los Angeles Times reports. Expulsion from the Senate requires a two-thirds vote; the last senators to be formally booted were alleged rebel supporters during... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Senate Ethics Committee • Dick Durbin • Democratic Party • Rod Blagojevich • US Senate • Roland Burris

(Newser) - The Roland Burris mess is not going away. It now looks like the Senate Ethics Committee will open an investigation into whether he lied about his contacts with Rod Blagojevich, Politico reports. Back home in Illinois, meanwhile, Democrats are joining Republican calls for a perjury investigation. Burris, who backtracked yesterday... More »

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Senate • Illinois • Senate Ethics Committee • Rod Blagojevich • Roland Burris

House Dems Told to Pony Up for Kanye Show

Senate rules OK the freebie; House says it's an ethics violation

Aug 27, 08 8:00 AM CDT
(Newser) - Tonight's Kanye West concert at the Democratic Convention is the unlikely source of an ethics quandary, ABC News reports, as Senate Democrats attend for free while the House is making staffers pay up. Under new rules intended to reduce the influence of lobbyists, members of Congress aren't allowed to take... More »

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ethics • Senate • Democratic National Convention • House of Representatives • Kanye West • Senate Ethics Committee

Senator Told
It's Unethical to
Deliver Babies

Ethics panel sees conflict in Coburn's pro-bono work

Aug 12, 08 5:39 PM CDT
(Newser) - Sen.Tom Coburn, an obstetrician by profession, is a stubborn guy. Known around the cloakroom as Dr. No, he isn't about to let anyone tell him to stop delivering babies when he's at home in Oklahoma at recess. The Senate Ethics Committee insists it's a conflict of interest, even though... More »

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medicine • Republican • doctor • Tom Coburn • Senate Ethics Committee • conflict of interest • obstetrician-gynecologists

 Obama Got
 'Good Deal'
 on Mortgage 

Better-than-average rate on $1.32M loan raises eyebrows; bank says it's not unusual

Jul 2, 08 11:32 AM CDT
(Newser) - Barack Obama is taking heat for accepting a better-than-average interest rate that saves him $300 a month on his $1.32 million mortgage, the Washington Post reports. The 30-year, fixed 5.625% rate on the Democrat's Chicago home was under the 6% being offered other buyers in June 2005 by... More »

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Barack Obama • presidential campaign • mortgage rates • Senate Ethics Committee • Northern Trust

Senate Scolds Craig Over Bathroom Sting

Ethics panel says
he 'discredited' the chamber with scandal

Feb 13, 08 9:14 PM CST
(Newser) - The Senate Ethics Committee had stern words for embattled Idaho Sen. Larry Craig today, issuing a "letter of admonition" that rebukes him for his arrest in a Minneapolis airport sex sting last June. The letter accuses Craig of committing actions that reflected "discreditably on the Senate," CNN... More »

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sex scandal • Larry Craig • Senate Ethics Committee

4 Men Detail Encounters
With Craig

Mike Jones, who outed  Haggard, says Craig also paid him for sex

Dec 3, 07 6:32 AM CST
(Newser) - The man who exposed his sexual relationship with evangelist Ted Haggard is now among four men claiming sexual encounters with Larry Craig, the Idaho Statesman reports. Mike Jones, who published a tell-all of his relationship with Haggard, says Craig paid him $200 for sex, while an IT consultant claims... More »

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Denver • Capitol Hill • escort • Larry Craig • Idaho Statesman • Minneapolis airport • Senate Ethics Committee • Mike Jones • Ted Haggard

Gay Groups Want Craig Probe Halted

Citing Vitter, activists see ‘homophobic’ double standard

Nov 13, 07 1:30 PM CST
(Newser) - Prominent gay rights groups are calling on the Senate Ethics Committee to drop its sexual misconduct probe of Larry Craig, calling the panel’s focus on the senator’s case—combined with the lack of focus on David Vitter’s—“hypocrisy tinged by homophobia.” The two groups say... More »

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gay rights • California • homophobia • David Vitter • Larry Craig • Senate Ethics Committee • Barbara Boxer

GOP Lashes Out at Craig Over Decision to Stay

Republican lawmakers consider Idaho senator an embarrassment

Oct 5, 07 4:55 PM CDT
(Newser) - The GOP is an uproar after Larry Craig announced yesterday that he will serve out his term, CNN reports. Some are criticizing the Idaho senator's decision because it will be a distraction from more pressing issues; others denounce Craig's behavior outright. "It's embarrassing for the Senate. It's embarrassing for... More »

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GOP • Larry Craig • John Ensign • Senate Ethics Committee • Election 2008 • senator

14 Stories


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