Senate Ethics Committee opens probe of Senator Franken

[tenderfoot]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Ethics Committee said on Thursday it has opened a preliminary inquiry into alleged misconduct by Senator Al Franken, who has been accused of sexual misconduct and inappropriately touching women.

Franken, a Democrat, said this week he was embarrassed and ashamed by his behavior but would not resign. He said he would cooperate with an Ethics Committee investigation.

“While the committee does not generally comment on pending matters or matters that may come before it, in this instance, the committee is publicly confirming that it has opened a preliminary inquiry into Senator Franken’s alleged misconduct,” the committee said in a statement.

Asked for comment, a spokesperson for Franken said the senator was committed to cooperating fully with the ethics investigation.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-franken/senate-ethics-committee-opens-probe-of-senator-franken-idUSKBN1DU34X

[Chasstev365]

1. I'm sure with the GOP in charge, it will be fair. NOT!

Can the Democrats get Sean Hannity under oath about his ties to LeAnn Tweeden?

[former9thward]

5. The GOP is not in charge.

There are equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats on the committee and one Democratic co-chair and one Republican co-chair. There is no testimony given under oath by either the accusers or the accused.

[bdamomma]

2. why don't

they investigate that POS sitting in the WH first.............Franken is a target, he is no Roy Moore.

Things are getting out of control. Vlad must be happy.

[democratisphere]

3. Let's see where the GOP takes this.

I believe Franken is innocent.

[brush]

4. Tweeden and the rest will have to testify under oath (photos of her goosing the guitar player's...

ass will be introduced).

Let's see what she has to say about that.

[former9thward]

6. No one testifies under oath in the committee.

Not the accused or the accusers. It is known as a toothless committee.

[brush]

7. You sure about that? Plenty of threads here have talked about the investigation Franken called for..

being under oath.

It serves no purpose if witnesses are not under oath.

People can lie and a career can be ruined.

[former9thward]

8. These are the rules of the Senate Ethics Committee.

https://www.ethics.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=551b39fc-30ed-4b14-b0d3-1706608a6fcb

No oath is required for initial hearings. If someone after an initial hearing, is thought to have violated an ethics provision oaths MAY be asked for if the committee wants them. Most Senate committees do not require an oath for testimony.

So yes, accusers and the accused can lie without legal consequences. That is why this committee is considered toothless and almost never gives a guilty finding.

People have posted that these things are under oath because they are used to seeing on TV people taking oaths. In practice that only happens in public hearings (the Ethics committee are always secret -- see the rules) that are on politically charged topics.

[brush]

9. Basically a waste of time then.