House ethics committee to investigate Filner.
House ethics committee to investigate Filner.
AP reports:
The House Ethics Committee announced an investigation Wednesday of Rep. Bob Filner’s run-in with a baggage worker at Dulles International Airport last month. The incident resulted in misdemeanor assault and battery charges against the congressman.
The committee released a short statement saying that it voted Tuesday to form a bipartisan, four-member investigative subcommittee to look into the incident. Action by the subcommittee will be deferred until the resolution of criminal proceedings against Filner, D-Calif., the panel said in a statement. [...]
The announcement by the House Ethics Committee Wednesday came on its deadline under new House rules that require the panel to investigate any lawmaker charged with a crime, or report to the House on why it’s decided not to. The determination must be made within 30 days _ which fell on Wednesday in Filner’s case.
The investigative subcommittee will be chaired by Rep. Gene Green, D-Texas, and the top Republican will be J. Gresham Barrett, R-S.C. The two other members will be Reps. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., and Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.
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If it’s the law, then everyone has to comply – Dems and Reps alike.
September 19th, 2007 at 1:56 pmThe House needs a fulltime, fully staffed committee that will look into the ethics of both sides of the aisle regularly.
September 19th, 2007 at 1:57 pmHaving gone through the frustrations of air travel recently, I can understand how normally peaceful people can be driven to fisticuffs. That said, I still believe it’s wrong to beat people up.
I guess my question is this, and it’s the same question I asked when Larry Craig pleaded guilty — Does arrest on a misdemeanor charge warrant expulsion from Congress? Or is this something for constituents to decide?
September 19th, 2007 at 2:03 pmOf course it’s wrong to resort to physical violence in this situation…but it’s also wrong to abuse your authority in the way I’ve personally witnessed many TSA people do on a regular basis.
Read this story to see just how far this has gone.
September 19th, 2007 at 2:11 pmSo long as this doesn’t turn into a witchhunt there’s no problem investigating Filner.
September 19th, 2007 at 2:15 pmIf he’s guilty, there should be consequences, D or R.
September 19th, 2007 at 2:16 pmHe didn’t offer to pay the baggage handler to do some oral on him, did he?
Great. Investigate Filner and charge him as appropriate. I’m all for enforcing the laws. At the same time, let’s start investigating the people who have stolen our country and trashed the Constitution, starting with our criminal President.
September 19th, 2007 at 2:17 pm#4 I agree with you about the TSA. I fly often, and TSA front line employees are frequently petty, abusive, and incompetent.
September 19th, 2007 at 2:19 pm[...]
new House rules that require the panel to investigate any lawmaker charged with a crime, or report to the House on why it’s decided not to. The determination must be made within 30 days …
so, is that how CRAIG got out of this?
September 19th, 2007 at 2:28 pmsome kind of statute of limitation?
huh…
seems the fact that he tried to hide it would disqualify that…
…
I would submit that this case’s status should be ‘pending’ until other investigations are complete.
Also, how about an investigation into Patrick McHenry’s relationship in those deaths last week? Is that fair game?
That little turd really needs some sunshine pumped up his lily white ass.
September 19th, 2007 at 2:29 pm#9 – “so, is that how CRAIG got out of this?” Comment by katy — September 19, 2007 @ 2:28 pm
Sen. Craig got out of it because the rules are different in the Senate than they are in the House of Representatives.
It’s kind of silly, but both legislative bodies are responsible for policing themselves.
September 19th, 2007 at 2:31 pmWould this guy punch an airport worker?
http://www.house.gov/filner/images/bfportraitsmall.jpg
Hmm. Actually, I think he would.
September 19th, 2007 at 2:40 pm#14 ~ labor unions are why we only work 40 hours a week. If you really want to investigate something, try corporations.
September 19th, 2007 at 2:53 pmComment by CaptainMantastic — September 19, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
You’re right, of course. When I have a bad day at work, I tend to get very crabby and impossible to live with. For airport workers, I bet every day is a bad day — or at least a great many of them are.
There are many facets of the system that need to be fixed. In the meantime, I have taken Amtrak when I find they go where I need to, and traveling on the train is still a great joy (if you’re not in a hurry, that is).
September 19th, 2007 at 3:19 pmSen. Craig got out of it because the rules are different in the Senate than they are in the House of Representatives. …
Comment by Democrat Soldier — September 19, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
duh… ugh… duh… thanks…
September 19th, 2007 at 6:21 pmme not think straight…
So, when is the Ethics Committee going to investigate Vitter and Craig? Is the Ethics Committee still controlled by Republics? It sure looks like it.
September 19th, 2007 at 10:49 pmHaving gone through the frustrations of air travel recently, I can understand how normally peaceful people can be driven to fisticuffs. That said, I still believe it’s wrong to beat people up.
missmolly, I’m surprised at you. Getting into a shoving match hardly qualifies as “beating someone up”. If he had “beat up” the handler, they would have pressed felony charges and not misdemeanor charges.
September 19th, 2007 at 10:51 pmmissmolly, I’m surprised at you. Getting into a shoving match hardly qualifies as “beating someone upâ€. If he had “beat up†the handler, they would have pressed felony charges and not misdemeanor charges.
Comment by bilbobaggins — September 19, 2007 @ 10:51 pm
You’re right — at the time I posted that, I was only going with the TP text of the item without investigating further, which only mentioned “misdemeanor assault and battery charges”. Interpreting that as “beating somebody up” may have been a bit of an exaggeration.
I usually do a bit more research before I sound off, and I should have this time. I did look into the story a bit more, and I found out what the employee’s complaint actually was:
[According to Kunkel's Aug. 19 complaint, Filner “barged in front of a line†of people inquiring about their luggage at a United Airlines baggage counter, screamed, then pushed on Kunkel's arms when she tried to keep him from stepping beyond her into an employees-only area.
“He wanted people in the back office to help him,†Kunkel said in her complaint. “I told him they were busy. I said he needs to stop – he told me 'you can't stop me.' I said, 'The police can.'
“At this point, I am yelling for co-workers to call the police. He gets past me into the back office yelling at other agents. He again pushes me out of the way near the doorway. After hearing a co-worker on the phone with (airport police), Mr. Filner leaves the office.â€]
It’s behavior unbecoming a Congressman (even though I understand his frustration), but he didn’t actually slug anyone. My apologies.
September 20th, 2007 at 8:40 am