House ethics panel to subpoena documents

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061005/ap_on_go_co/congress_pages;_ylt=AmY82nwY0dfCeYR2GEzM8pGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

House ethics panel to subpoena documents

By LARRY MARGASAK and DAVID ESPO, Associated Press Writers 17 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The House ethics committee on Thursday launched an investigation of a congressional page sex scandal that has imperiled Republican election prospects, approving dozens of subpoenas for documents and testimony.


The committee's chairman, Rep. Doc Hastings (news, bio, voting record), R-Wash., said a newly formed subcommittee's investigation "will go wherever our evidence leads us."

Asked if embattled House speaker
Dennis Hastert was among those subpoenaed, Hastings would not comment.

"We are looking at weeks, not months," said the committee's senior Democrat, Rep. Howard Berman (news, bio, voting record) of California.

A House GOP official said that Hastert, fighting to save his job, will take responsibility for the unfolding scandal involving former Rep. Mark Foley (news, bio, voting record), R-Fla., but will insist that he will stay on as leader of House Republicans at a news conference scheduled later in Batavia, Ill.

[Kagemusha]

1. So does this mean the FBI can't see it, even if the FBI gets serious?

They gonna start granting immunity for testimony?

I have no basis for that. I'm just being cynical and asking what I feel like other people would ask if this was a committee investigation into matters of state. People would ask who's gonna be given immunity and will get off on that basis alone.

[rodeodance]

2. they set up a tip line:

Hastert announced that a tip line had been activated for people to call if they have information on Foley or any problems with the page program. The number is 866-348-0481.

The Justice Department earlier this week ordered House officials to preserve all records related to Foley's electronic correspondence with teenagers. The request for record preservation is often followed by search warrants and subpoenas, and signal that investigators are moving closer to a criminal investigation.

[rodeodance]

3. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones D-Ohio. will be a member:

......A former Republican aide said Wednesday he had expressed concerns to top officials in Hastert's office about Foley's behavior with pages more than three years ago.

The ethics subcommittee will be made up of Hastings, Berman, Rep. Judy Biggert (news, bio, voting record), R-Ill., Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (news, bio, voting record), D-Ohio.

"We have ideological and philosophical differences," Berman acknowledged. "We are going to put those differences totally aside" for the investigation.

As Hastert huddled with aides to write a statement to be delivered at the news conference, the ethics panel opened an investigation into the unfolding scandal over Foley's come-ons to teenage congressional pages and accusations — even by some Republicans — that House leaders failed to protect the teens.

[central scrutinizer]

4. I am sure we can trust them to do a thorough job

Just like the job they did investigating Cunningham, Ney, Delay, Abramoff, etc.

[rodeodance]

5. Tubbs Jones---will keep their noses to the fire!

[sutz12]

6. I thought they disbanded the ethics committee

:evilgrin:

[rodeodance]

7. Pelosi called a Hourse Resolution last Friday for House Ethics Comm

to investigate.