On Countdown Tonight..CREW Files Ethics Complaint against Senator David Vitter

[rsmith6621]

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) asked the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to investigate Senator David Vitter (R-LA) for bribery. CREW’s complaint stems from a letter Sen. Vitter sent to Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Department of the Interior, threatening to vote against the secretary’s pay raise unless and until the department begins issuing new deepwater exploratory permits.

“Whether it is a defense contractor buying French furniture for a congressman in exchange for earmarks, or a senator who ties a department secretary’s pay raise to approving permits, bribery is bribery,” said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan. “Paying off government leaders to influence official actions is against the law, period.”

On May 23, 2011, Sen. Vitter sent a letter to Secretary Salazar stating that he intended to block legislation granting the secretary's pay raise until the Department of Interior began issuing six permits for new deepwater exploratory wells each month. Only if Interior began issuing the permits at that rate would Senator Vitter

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/CREW-Files-Ethics-Complaint-bw-2158233815.html?x=0&.v=1

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Unfortunately we know it will go nowhere

[napi21]

2. It's their thid against him! nt

[cayanne]

3. I'm sticking with Rachael nt