Source:
ABC NewsCREW Says Vitter Paid For Troubled Aide's Trips Home For Court DatesA watchdog group has asked Congress to investigate whether Sen. David Vitter, R.-Louisiana, violated senate rules by using government funds to pay for a troubled aide to travel to Louisiana for court appearances and to perform court-ordered community service.
In a complaint lodged with the Senate Ethics Committee Tuesday, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) also asked the committee to investigate whether Vitter broke rules by paying aide Brent Furer's salary while Furer was on leave pending prosecution for an alleged knife-point attack on his ex-girlfriend.
"American taxpayers have a right to expect that their hard-earned dollars are spent on the people's business and not assisting a staff member facing criminal charges for drunk driving and domestic violence," said CREW executive director Melanie Sloan in the complaint. "Senator Vitter's continued protection of Mr. Furer a clearly troubled and dangerous person does not reflect creditably upon the Senate and merits the Committee's inquiry."
ABC News revealed in June that Furer had had repeated brushes with the law dating back to the 1990s, that he had an open warrant for his arrest in Baton Rouge on a drunk driving charge, and had been arrested for attacking his ex-girlfriend with a knife.
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http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/watchdog-asks-senate-investigate-sen-david-vitter/story?id=11693726