GOP loyalist in firestorm over DeLay

[struggle4progress]

By LES BLUMENTHAL
McClatchy Newspapers
April 04, 2005

WASHINGTON - .. Rep. Doc Hastings .. now finds himself in the middle of the political firestorm surrounding House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and allegations that the Texas Republican's fundraising and travel activities have violated House ethics rules. <snip>

Since the first of the year .. the respected chairman of the committee was fired by Hastert and replaced with Hastings; two other Republican members of the panel were replaced by DeLay allies; and House ethics rules were changed to ensure the majority leader survives any challenge.

As Hastings assumed the chairmanship, he dismissed the committee's chief counsel and another staff lawyer who had led an earlier investigation of DeLay. <snip>

Dave Donnelly, a spokesman for the Public Campaign Action Fund, said Hastings needs to buck Republican leaders and "stand up and start an investigation" of DeLay.

http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=HASTINGS-04-04-05&cat=WW