Luján Statement on GOP Attack on Congressional Ethics

[WASHINGTON, DC] – When the new Congress is sworn in later today, one of the first orders of business will be to adopt rules for the 115th Congress, including language stripping the Office of Congressional Ethics of its independent status, putting it under the direct control of the majority party in the House and limiting its ability to act on serious allegations of misconduct or criminal activity. 

 

In response, Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM03) issued the following statement:

 

"House Republicans have chosen to start the new Congress on the most hypocritical note possible by stripping the Office of Congressional Ethics of its independence and bringing it under partisan control."

 

"Instead of ‘draining the ethics swamp' that so many Republicans praised on the campaign trail, this opens the door for special interest and partisan corruption and stocks Washington with newer, bigger swamp creatures just as the new Congress considers taxes and major infrastructure spending. 

 

"The Office of Congressional Ethics works precisely because it doesn't answer to any political party and sadly that's why Speaker Ryan and his allies are gutting its authority today."