Research Briefing

News Of Rep. Johnson’s Nepotism The Most Recent Scandal In Long Line Of Democrat Ethical Failures

Nancy Pelosi: “Democrats Will Create The Most Open And Honest Government In History …” (Rep. Nancy Pelosi, "Pelosi: ‘We Will Create the Most Open and Honest Government in History’" Press Release, 1/18/06)

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) Violated Anti-Nepotism Rules By Steering Scholarship Money To Relatives

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson Violated Anti-Nepotism Rules By Awarding Thousands Of Dollars In Scholarships To Four Relatives And A Top Aide’s Children. “Longtime Dallas congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson has awarded thousands of dollars in college scholarships to four relatives and a top aide's two children since 2005, using foundation funds set aside for black lawmakers' causes.” (Todd J. Gilman and Christy Hoppe, “Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson Violated Rules, Steered Scholarships To Relatives,” The Dallas Morning News, 8/29/10)

Of The Scholarships Johnson Awarded Between 2005 And 2008, “Three Or Four Winners” Each Year Were Related To The Congresswoman Or Her District Director. “Johnson awarded nine to 11 scholarships a year from 2005 to 2008, the most recent years for which information was available. Each of those years, three or four winners were related to her or her district director, Rod Givens. … Scholarships have gone to two of the congresswoman's grandsons, Kirk and David Johnson; to two of her great-nephews, Gregory and Preston Moore; and to Givens' son and daughter.” (Todd J. Gilman and Christy Hoppe, “Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson Violated Rules, Steered Scholarships To Relatives,” The Dallas Morning News, 8/29/10)

• The Recipients Were Ineligible Under Anti-Nepotism Rules Of The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. “The recipients were ineligible under anti-nepotism rules of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, which provided the money. And all of the awards violated a foundation requirement that scholarship winners live or study in a caucus member's district.” (Todd J. Gilman and Christy Hoppe, “Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson Violated Rules, Steered Scholarships To Relatives,” The Dallas Morning News, 8/29/10)

Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) Used Power Of Office To Help His Son Evade Prison Sentence

Congressman Nick Rahall (D-WV) Used Congressional Stationary To Implore Judge To Avoid Sentencing Son To Prison. “In February 2005, as his troubled son was facing felony robbery charges in Virginia, Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) wrote a letter to a Fairfax County judge on congressional stationery, imploring him to show mercy on the then-27-year-old Nick Joe Rahall III.” (John Bresnahan, “Rahall's Plea Raises Questions,” Politico, 8/12/10)

Rahall Acknowledged Stationary Was Misused, But Denied Letter Impacted Judge’s Sentencing. “Rahall acknowledged to POLITICO that he should not have used congressional stationery for the Feb. 14, 2005, letter but said it was not the same type that he uses for official or committee business. House ethics rules bar the use of congressional stationery for anything but government-related activities… Rahall also denied that his son was granted any special breaks because of his status as a member of Congress or due to his intervention on his son’s behalf.” (John Bresnahan, “Rahall's Plea Raises Questions,” Politico, 8/12/10)

• Rahall’s Son Avoided Prison Sentence, While Another Defendant Received 11 Months. “Nick Joe Rahall, the congressman’s only son, was given a four-year suspended sentence, avoiding prison time in this instance despite being incarcerated twice in the previous four years… Another defendant in the same case, Melissa Overheu, was sent to prison for 11 months.” (John Bresnahan, “Rahall's Plea Raises Questions,” Politico, 8/12/10)

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) Accused Of Ethical And Disclosure Violations

Rep. Rangel Is Accused Of 13 Ethics And Disclosure Violations. “Rangel is accused of improperly using his office to solicit donations for a school of public policy in his name at the City College of New York (CCNY); of using a rent-stabilized apartment in Harlem for his campaign office; of failing to report more than $600,000 on his financial disclosure report; and of failing to pay taxes on rental income from a villa he owns in the Dominican Republic.” (Susan Crabtree and Jordan Fabian, “Ethics Brings 13 Counts Against Rangel,” The Hill, 7/29/10)

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) Charged With Breaking House Ethics Rules

House Ethics Committee Formally Charged Rep. Waters With Three Counts Of Ethics Wrongdoing. “The House ethics committee has formally charged California Democrat Maxine Waters with three counts of ethics wrongdoing, including charges that she accepted special favors for a family member.” (Jim Abrams, “House Ethics Panel Outlines Charges Against Waters,” The Associated Press, 8/9/10)

The Ethics Office Concluded In Its Report That Rep. Waters “Violated House Rules Because She Appeared To Have A Conflict Of Interest” And Took Action That “Could Have Benefited Her Family Personally.” “The ethics office concludes in its report that there is evidence to suggest that Ms. Waters’ action violated House rules because she appeared to have a conflict of interest and took a step that could have benefited her family personally.” (Eric Lipton, “Waters Saw Conflict Of Interest And Acted Anyway, Report Says,” The New York Times, 8/2/10)

• Rep. Waters Helped Arrange Meeting For Bank That She Had Financial Ties With To Receive TARP Bailout Funds. “One of Los Angeles' most enduring black politicians, Waters came under scrutiny last year after Massachusetts-based OneUnited Bank, one of the nation's largest minority-owned institutions, received $12 million in bailout funds.” (Richard Simon and Lisa Mascaro, “Maxine Waters Faces Ethics Charges,” Los Angeles Times, 7/31/10)

SC Senate Democrat Nominee Alvin Greene Indicted For Felony Porn Charges

Alvin Greene Was Indicted For “Disseminating, Procuring Or Promoting Obscenity” After Showing Pornography To A College Student. “Longshot U.S. Senate candidate Alvin Greene has been indicted on a felony charge of showing pornography to a South Carolina college student. Court records show a grand jury in Richland County handed down the indictment Friday for disseminating, procuring or promoting obscenity. The Democratic nominee was also indicted on a misdemeanor charge of communicating obscene materials to a person without consent.” (Meg Kinnard, “SC’S Greene Indicted On Felony Obscenity Charge,” The Associated Press, 8/13/10)

WV Governor And Dem Senate Nominee Joe Manchin Is Under Investigation

U.S. Attorney’s Office Subpoenaed Manchin’s Office “As Part Of A Possible Investigation Involving Manchin Himself.”  “Federal investigators contacted Gov. Joe Manchin’s office earlier this week as part of a possible investigation involving Manchin himself, according to a published report. Citing an anonymous source, West Virginia Watchdog reported Friday that Manchin’s office had been subpeoned [sic] by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as part of a federal grand jury investigation. … The investigation is into whether Manchin has complied with bidding and state contract requirements, according to West Virginia Watchdog.” (Walt Williams, “Federal Investigators Probe Manchin's Office,” The State Journal [WV], 8/6/10)

Rep. Pete Visclosky’s (D-IN) Under Justice Department Investigation For Business Dealings

Justice Department Continuing Investigation Into Rep. Pete Visclosky’s Business Dealings. “Information about the no-bid contracts Hoosier Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-1st, obtained for businesses that gave him money for re-election expenses will be turned over to the Justice Department, an independent ethics board announced Thursday… The office, which advises the House ethics committee, previously said there was enough evidence against Visclosky and one other lawmaker to warrant further investigation.” (Sylvia A. Smith, “Visclosky’s Ethics Case Gets 2nd Look,” Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette, 5/28/10)

• Visclosky Also Under Justice Department Investigation For Ties To Now Defunct Lobbying Firm. “In addition, the Justice Department is continuing its criminal investigation into Democratic lawmakers’ dealings with the PMA Group, a now-defunct lobbying firm that specialized in winning multimillion-dollar spending earmarks from the Appropriations Committee for its clients.  Rep. Pete Visclosky of Indiana, a senior member of the Appropriations panel, and his former top aide Charles Brimmer were issued subpoenas as part of that investigation earlier this year. The DOJ probe is ongoing, according to multiple sources.” (John Bresnahan, “Ethics Probes May Saddle Democrats In 2010,” Politico, 12/11/09)