Hoyer: Dems keeping an ethics eye on GOP

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said yesterday that Democrats would scrutinize any Republican appointments to the House ethics committee and investigate their political donations to fellow members of Congress.

Two GOP lawmakers on the panel recused themselves from any potential investigation into House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) because they had made political contributions to his legal defense fund.

“We will see whether others on the committee make a similar determination ... the test is going to be whether or not the ethics committee undertakes a fair, objective and thorough investigation, hearing and consideration of ethical questions brought to its attention and under its purview,” Hoyer said. “That will be the test. We will see.”

Hans Nichols