Moments ago during a press conference, a reporter asked House ethics committee chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) if he supports Speaker Hastert. “I think the Speaker has done an excellent job,” Hastings replied.
But moments later, sensing his previous comments might lead some to question his impartiality, Hastings added that his praise for Hastert was “not related to the matter at hand here.” Watch it:
[flv http://video.thinkprogress.org/2006/10/Hastert_job.320.240.flv]
Transcript:
REPORTER: Mr. Hastings, do you still personally support the speaker?
HASTINGS: I think the speaker has done an excellent job.
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HASTINGS: I want to thank you all for coming. Before I, before we quit here, I just simply want to say the remarks that I made regarding Speaker Hastert is not related to the matter at hand here.
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